Jamie Conlan calls for discipline ahead of world title tilt

The gunslinger will have to become chess player if he wants to become Ireland’s newest world champion tonight.

Super flyweight Jamie Conlan [19(11)-0] challenges Filipino IBF world champion Jerwin Ancajas on a massive Belfast bill, which will be topped by Carl Frampton’s ring return, and is adamant he will have to leave his warrior ways behind if he is to defeat a fighter he has no problem admitting is a stand-out talent.

The aptly-christened ‘Mexican’ has come through a number of highly entertaining wars of attrition to secure a coveted shot but, after proving he isn’t lacking in the gut department, the Irish Gatti will have to prove he is guile-capable if he is to defeat Ancajas in the SSE Odyssey Arena tonight.

Conlan says he will have to stick to the game plan and remained disciplined if he is to achieve life long ambition.

“A very disciplined performance is needed,” said Conlan. “I can’t really get carried away in this one and I think the kind of style he brings will make me be a lot more tuned in.”

“He’s more of a boxer than a fighter, more a technical boxer than a brawler, so it could be a different gameplan than what I’m used to. It could always go the other way and turn into a fight, but we’re preparing the right way to deal with this fella.”

Prior to signing up with Matthew Macklin’s MTK Global, Conlan saw a number of big domestic fights fall through so the Falls Road fighter is overjoyed to finally be preparing for his big night.

“This is something I’ve worked for a long while and what I’ve been gearing towards for a long while,” said 31 year old Conlan.

“When I signed with Macklin and MTK it was what they set out for me. It was a plan they had in place to put me on this path.

“I’ve rarely met people in boxing that don’t want something out of it, but when I sat down with them [MTK], I knew it was different with Matt. He’s trying to look after the boxers, who are usually always the guys who get screwed over. MTK are trying to change that and I can’t fault anything they’ve done,” continued the Commonwealth champion.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (ThefIrish)