Welcome Home – Conlan has too much class for former world title challenger

There was a happy Homecoming for Michael Conlan.

Fighting for the first time in his home town since 2011 and the first time as a pro, the Belfast boy got a rapturous welcome and a welcome step up win.

It wasn’t all fireworks but the world amateur gold medal winner came out a clear winner despite facing a genuine step up.

The Adam Booth-trained fighter emerged with a 79-73 points win over a recent world title challenger in just his eighth fight.

The intelligent Falls fighter dominated Brazilian Adeilson Dos Santos and looked comfortable in against a fighter that reached world level when he challenged Jessie Magdaleno for the WBO super bantamweight title as recently as April of last year.

The visiting fighter was game but could never match the Top Rank talent and, despite coming to win, suffered a fifth career defeat.

The win sees Conlan push his record to 7-0 and will now look toward a revenge clash with Olympic foe Vladimir Nikitin, who is also signed to Bob Arum’s Top Rank.