Mick Conlan drops huge homecoming hint

Clear your calendars, Mick Conlan is coming home.

The Belfast featherweight’s first six fights have all played out overseas and he will return to Madison Square Garden for a fourth time next month.

Conlan [6(5)-0] fights Spaniard Ibon Larrinaga over eight rounds on the Linares-Lomachenko undercard and, should he come through unscathed, it’s on to Belfast afterwards and what looks like a big homecoming on Saturday June 30th.

A return home has long been in the works. It is in Conlan’s contract that he has the option to fight at home once a year. This option was wavered last year, with a proposed Winter date being passed to allow Conlan be built up and fight live on ESPN the following Summer when TV schedules were clearer.

A date in late May or early June was then floated but this has been pushed back due to an appearance on the Linares-Lomachenko card on May 12th.

And so, we come to Saturday June 30th. While this date isn’t confirmed, Conlan himself heavily hinted at it as being the night when he will fight at home for the first time as a pro.

Conlan was answering questions on an Instagram live video and, when asked by overseas fans looking to book a trip to Belfast, he teased: “all I’m saying, anyone wanting to travel over – June 30th.”

“June 30th, that’s all I can say.”

Conlan, of course, can not overlook Larrinaga in what will be his second bout under new coach Adam Booth.

However, if, as expected, the Basque boxer is negotiated, it looks to be back to Belfast – most likely the SSE Odyssey Arena – and a massive bill which could feature other stars such as the World title-chasing Paddy Barnes and the return of Jamie Conlan.