Conlan eyes 2018 World title fight with Frampton

Micheal Conlan isn’t one to bask in glory. Not long after he became the first ever Irish man to drape World Championship gold around his neck, the Belfast bantamweight was predicting summer Olympic glory.

Somewhere between the plane back from Doha and the Belfast welcome organised for him by the Belfast Boxers group, the younger brother of current pro Jamie,set out a 2018 World professional winning title goal.

And Conlan admits a Battle of Belfast with current IBF super bantamweight ring king Carl Frampton, someone the 23 year old knows personally and respects, would be a ‘phenomenal’ way to relies that dream.

“Yeah, definitely – I would hope it would be a possibility because it would be huge for Belfast. It would be phenomenal,” said Conlan when speaking to the Irish News.

“I’d be 100 per cent confident of beating Carl because you have to be – it’s boxing. I believe I am the best. I want to have a world title within two years of turning over after Rio. So then you’re looking at 2018 – he’ll be 31, I’ll be 26. That would be perfect.

“It all depends if he’s still at the top – it’s a hard division and age is a factor too. But I’d love a shot at Carl in the pro game because I believe 100 per cent I’d beat him.”

He continued: “I have the utmost respect for Carl, he’s a great fighter. His movement and footwork are very good, he has good power and he’s an exciting fighter to watch. I think he’s a great person as well, he’s a gentleman and a great ambassador for boxing in Ireland, he really is.

“I talk away to Carl no problem, it’s nothing personal. But if a fight does happen, I’d be confident of beating him. I’d be confident of beating him now if I went pro.”