‘Make that fight now’ – Michael Conlan discusses exciting opponent options for Tyson Fury card bout
Michael Conlan has instructed his team to make a fight with former world champion Isaac Dogboe.
The Top Rank fighter looks set to share a card with WBC heavyweight champion of the world and promotional stablemate Tyson Fury on December 5.
Dogboe has previously stated he was offered the fight and predicted the pair would trade leather on December 12.
Conlan claims he was unaware of any Dogboe plans at the time, but instructed his brother and manager Jamie Conlan to make the fight.
“As soon as I heard he was talking about fighting me, I said to Jamie: ‘Make that fight’,” Conlan told the Irish News.
However it now seems the 26-year-old Ghanaian isn’t keen on a return to super bantamweight, the weight Conlan is hope to challenge for a world title at in March.
“Now Dogboe is saying he won’t go back to 122-pounds but he’s the one who’s been calling me out, so I don’t understand it – maybe he just wants to keep his name in the mix?,” Conlan adds.
Another option would be Ionut Baluta, the Romanian with Irish previous, having upset TJ Doheny and most recently David Oliver Joyce.
The WBO European ranking title holder told Irish-boxing.com he’d prefer a return to bantamweight, but would have to be tempted by the chance to register a massive scalp on a big Top Rank TV card.
Conlan is certainly keen and see’s the value in the fight.
“I’ll face him if he does come down to 122, if not I would fight Ionut Baluta, the guy that beat David Oliver Joyce. I think he’s being spoken about and that’s another fight I would happily take. I think I would do a good job on him and look good doing so, he’s a good fighter – you don’t beat guys like David Oliver – if you’re not. He’d be a dangerman for anybody. So I’d be happy to face him, or Dogboe or whoever.
“At the moment, I don’t know what the plan is or who the plan is for, I just know I have to be ready for December 5th. I told Jamie: ‘I don’t care who you put in front of me, I don’t care who you get, I’ll fight anybody.’ That’s how I feel. I think he’s happy with that approach and go ahead and get working on things.”
