Mick Conlan ignoring fight talk as building continues

By Ciaran O’Malley

Mick Conlan won’t be distracted with Shakur Stevenson calling his name.

Belfast featherweight Conlan [10(6)-0] is currently deep in preparations for his third consecutive St. Patricks Day fight in New York where he will face Mexican Ruben Garcia Hernandez at Madison Square Garden Theatre.

The 27-year old Falls Road fighter is fully focused with the task at hand, and not worrying about future fights down the line.

Stevenson and Conlan seem destine to face each other in the future.

It’s a fight all hoped to see when both men were competing in the Rio Olympics in 2016, but it would not happen due to the Irishman’s elimination by Vladimir Nikitin in the quarter-finals/

Now both men are signed with Top Rank – along with Nikitin – and it looks likely to be a huge fight in the future.

However, for now, both are building their pro-careers and it’s not something Conlan is thinking about

“I’ve just got to focus on myself and not worry about anyone else. People in my division can call me out and when those fights happen, they happen,” explained Conlan.

Conlan is fully aware off his large and ever growing fanbase, both in Ireland and further afield, and has previously noted the disparity in this regard between himself and Stevenson.

The 2015 World Amateur champion outlined how “I’m just going with the flow and improving myself. I don’t need anybody. I have a big enough name for myself without having to call out anybody.”

Conlan is in no doubt that tougher tasks await him, but this is something he feels will bring out the best in him.

The switch-hitter is relishing the opportunity to fight high level opponents, something he had been doing in the amateurs.

Conlan promised that “I’ll just continue to improve and as the quality of opposition goes up, you’ll see better performances of me. I’m confident of that. Everything is going smoothly.

Conlan is currently in London working with Adam Booth and this fight will be there sixth fight together, the pair have gelled well and build a solid relationship.

“I’ve such a great team behind me. I’ve got a great coach and great management and I’m feeling good about everything,” he added