Micheal Conlan lays out new world title road map

But for the pandemic Michael Conlan [13(7)-0] would currently be preparing for an August world title fight right now.

The Belfast fighter would have had the chance to challenge for a world strap during the Falls Park hosted Feile.

A fight against Colombian fighter Belmar Preciado  in New York in March would have set him for a shot at the WBO world title, which by August would have been vacated by Shakur Stevenson.

However, for very obvious reason that never materialized, but Top Rank fighter is confident he is in a similar situation now to the one he found himself in, in March.

The London 2012 Olympic medal winner believes he is two or three fights away from a world title shot.

“If I am honest I thought I could have been boxing for one in August. If it wasn’t for the virus I believe St Patrick’s Day would have set me up perfectly and I believe I would have had a world title fight in my back garden,” explained the World Amateur Championship gold medal winner.

“That would have been amazing, but there is not much I can do about it,” he added before outlining the new plan of action.

“Now I’d say I’ll box next in August, so possibly December or St Patrick’s Day. So I think it’s going to be in two or three [fights].”

Once August is out of the way, Conlan will survey the world title landscape.

He is #1 with the WBO at featherweight and is the only Irish fighter ranked in all of the governing bodies at his weight. The WBO is currently held by Shakur Stevenson, but the American fought at super feather earlier this month and is likely to vacate and move up permanently.

That would leave the door open for Conlan to fight for the vacant strap. Undefeated Ruben Villa is the #2 with the governing body, whilst Ryan Walsh is #3.