Jamie Conlan believes past tough times will give him the edge over Ancajas

Not quite Lemony Snicket, but Jamie Conlan [19(11)-0] knows what it is like to have suffered a series of unfortunate events.

Since he decided to turn over, initially to open a pathway to amateur success for his younger brother Mick, ‘The Mexican’ had been tipped to succeed.

At the very least British title success was predicted, but despite being in a weight where fighters reach title goals in extra quick fashion the Belfast fighter has had to wait eight years – many of which he was highly ranked – for a major title shot.

The Falls Road 30 year old has been battered in and out of the ring, but has always come out with a win even in the most unlikeliest of circumstances.

Early on in his career promotional issues and circumstances around shows often saw him feeling deflated.

The super flyweight had false dawn after false dawn and admits at times he felt a World title shot was impossible.

Speaking on the day he announced he will fight IBF World champion Jerwin Ancajas in Belfast the 30 year old explained.

“A lot of times I didn’t [think this would happen] but since I signed with Matthew Macklin he gave me a new outlook and a new lease of life in terms of my boxing career. Everything he told me, and the lads in MTK have said has come true.”

Conlan has often discussed those times when cards were scarce and, in his case, luck scarcer, but he can now take the positives from the negative experiences.

The super fly, who has shown his fighting spirit when getting up off the canvas in recent nail-biting wins, claims the down times have shaped him and both a man and a fighter.

He believes they have given him a will and an edge and hints those dark days could be key in him becoming World champion on November 18th.

“I am grateful to be here and the road I had to take has lead me here now for a reason. Everything seems to be happening at the right time and the things I have had to go through to get to this point makes it special.”

“I believe what I have been through has been for a reason. There is a point went the bad weeks and the let downs give you characteristics both as a man and a boxer that shape you.”

“I have been in situations that he has never been in. I know I need to be 100 million percent at my best, but he has shown flaws that haven’t been exposed before and I have to expose them now.”

“I do have the confidence in my own ability and what I can do.”

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