Latest news with #MichaelConlan
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Michael Conlan reflects on infamous X-rated Olympics interview nine years on
Michael Conlan says his controversial loss at the 2016 Olympics was a 'blessing in disguise' nine years on from his infamous RTE interview. Just moments after the shock loss to Vladimir Nikitin, Conlan gave an expletive-ridden interview to the national broadcaster, calling the decision a 'shambles'. "I will never box for them again," Conlan told RTE. "They're cheating b*******, they're paying everybody. "I don't give a f*** about swearing on TV. I'm here to win Olympic gold and my dream has been shattered." Conlan was also seen pointing the middle finger in the ring after the fight. Since then, an independent investigation has said the fight outcome was 'deemed suspicious,' while Conlan has previously added that he feels vindicated by the McLaren report. Now nine years to the day, Conlan has reflected on the shock loss. "Nine years ago today... time really does fly!" he posted on social media. "What felt like a setback back then turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The truth came out later with the McLaren Report (look it up if you don't know) which made it all the sweeter knowing I was right. "If I could go back to change this I wouldn't. What's meant to be will always be - this was springboard into professional boxing world that helped me set up my family future, so thank you." Conlan would go on to launch a successful pro career and was one last-minute punch away from becoming a world champion when he lost to Leigh Wood in 2022. He faced his old foe Nikitin in December 2019, cruising to victory via unanimous decision. Since his loss to Wood, Conlan's career hasn't been plain sailing. After bouncing back with a couple of wins, he suffered successive defeats to Luis Alberto Lopez and Jordan Gill. Conlan did say he was on the verge of retirement only for his daughter to force a u-turn. "It was after after Lopez and after Gill and I'm thinking 'that's enough, that's me done,'" he told the Irish Mirror. "So I said to the missus, that's me done, I ain't going to do this no more and she says 'okay, no problem'. "But my daughter Luisne who is 10 hears me saying it and she says 'What? No, daddy! You need to be a world champion, you're not retiring...'." He returns to action next month, headlining a 3Arena Show on 5 September against Jack Bateson.
BreakingNews.ie
09-08-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Michael Conlan eyes final push as he headlines 3Arena debut in September
After 15 months out of the ring, Belfast boxer Michael Conlan made his return in March this year to defeat Asad Asif Khan in Brighton. It was a long road since December 2023, when he was defeated by Jordan Gill in Belfast, and for the first time in his professional career, lost two fights in a row. Advertisement Prior to that, Conaln's second chance at a world title did not go his way when he lost to Luis Alberto Lopez. After the Gill defeat, it looked like Conlan's days could be over. Speaking to Conlan said time away from the sport made him focus on what he needs to do on his return to boxing. "There were doubts in my head, but once I looked at my goals, and saw my vision of what I wanted to do, I knew I still wasn't done. Advertisement "I looked to the future, and saw and understood what was left in me, if I can still achieve what I want to achieve. I believe that is still in me, and I can get there; that is my reason for coming back. "I have goals and things I want to achieve. It is hard to get back into the swing of things, but now I am back in full flow, and I am in a good place." Not one to relax and sit still out of the ring, Conlan kept active and fit in his time away from the sport, both for body and mind. "I've done an awful lot of running. I did a marathon during that time, I always need to do something to keep myself occupied, keep my mind occupied, or I might lose my mind. Advertisement "I did a two-hour 55-minute marathon in Manchester last year on my time off. "In terms of watching boxing, I could watch boxing no problem, but the thing is I don't watch much boxing anyway. "I don't watch anything to do with my work. I have been in boxing for 27 years, it is a long time. It is not something I want to be around or focus on a lot." From winning bronze in the Olympics in London, to becoming world and European champion in amateurs, to the infamous defeat in the Rio Olympics, and being seconds away from becoming world champion against Leigh Wood, it has been quite the journey for the Belfast boxer. Advertisement After being in the sport for so long, this is the final push for Conlan. As he approaches the final steps of his journey, he prioritised planning for life after boxing during his time away from the sport. "Let's be honest, there is no doubt about it, I am probably at the tail end of my career. I am no longer the young kid, I am the old man. "The fact I am still here and still working away, is a good thing. You have to think about the future; you can't just think everything is going to be alright. Advertisement "You need to have plans. For any fighter at the start of their career, you have to think about what is next. I made sure I had things in place when it was time to say goodbye." On September 5th, Conlan will headline the 3Arena in Dublin for the first time in his career when he takes on Jack Bateson. A familiar opponent for Conlan, he is looking forward to what should be an exciting night for Irish boxing. "Jack is a good lad, I know him personally. We have sparred some rounds and stuff. I know him as a person and a fighter; he is a good fighter. "He is a dangerous opponent, because this is Jack's big chance to shine, and he is going to do everything he can to upset the apple cart. I have got to do what I can to stop that." September is going to be a memorable month for Irish boxing, with a new champion from Ireland guaranteed when Lewis Croker faces Paddy Donovan in Belfast after Conlan's bout in Dublin. After years without the biggest shows coming to the country, it is an exciting time to be a boxing fan in Ireland, and Conlan credits Katie Taylor for making it happen. "It is something I wanted to do for a long time, and now I finally get to do it, so I am very excited. I think it is a fantastic time for Irish boxing with more shows in Dublin. "I will be the first person to headline both the SSE and the 3 Arena. To be the only Irishman to do both is great because it means I am still creating history, which is a good thing. "Katie is the Queen of Irish boxing; her coming back made it easier for us all to come back."
The Irish Sun
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Michael Conlan makes retirement decision ahead of ‘last hurrah' against Jack Bateson as he holds onto world title dream
LAST DANCE Michael Conlan makes retirement decision ahead of 'last hurrah' against Jack Bateson as he holds onto world title dream MICHAEL CONLAN has taken the Rocky Road to Dublin. The 33-year-old boxer is 22 fights into a professional career that kicked off in 2017 — and acknowledges it is all nearly over. Advertisement 3 Michael Conlan said he would retire the next time he lost Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 He won his last fight against Asad Khan Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 He fights Jack Bateson, right, on September 5 Credit: Getty Images - Getty Conlan has fought in New York, Brisbane, Chicago and London and challenged for the world title, unsuccessfully, in Nottingham and back home in Belfast. All were huge events but his last outing, in Brighton in March where he beat Asad Khan, did not have that big-night feel. Still, instead of freaking him out, it gave the veteran warrior an inner feeling of calm. Conlan told SunSport: 'Nerves never get to me. I always use nerves well. But I've never not been nervous — so that made me nervous. Advertisement 'I was going, 'What the f*** is going on here?' 'I do like a bit of nerves and I think I will probably be a bit nervous when I get in here to Dublin because it's something new, something different. 'That last fight was something new and something different. But it was something new and something different in a completely different way. 'I was fighting in an arena in Brighton with not many Irish people. I was coming out to the sound of Grace and I was standing over the stage going, 'No, there's nobody sitting here, what's going on?' Advertisement 'I'm not used to the small hall stuff and that's what it was like. I suppose there was just no pressure. When there's no pressure there's no nerves really. 'That's why I'm actually focusing on the rest of my career. The pressure's off me. People probably don't expect me to do anything anymore. People are probably going, , 'That ship's sailed'. But I know deep down inside me . . . George Groves puts Sun Sport through their paces with intense workout 'This is the last hurrah, the last roll of the dice. The next time I lose, that'll be me calling it a day. 'I'm in a good enough place to say that because a lot of people will be afraid to say that type of thing. Advertisement 'I'm under no illusion that boxing is a sport you can get seriously hurt in. I don't want to be one of them people who get seriously hurt in this game. I'll know when the time is right to say goodbye. That'll be the next time I lose. 'I know at the same time that even at this stage of my career I can still go and win a world title. 'I know I have the ability, I know I have the mindset. Now I believe I have the right team around me. 'If it happens, fantastic. If it doesn't, then so be it. It's life. I have plenty outside of boxing which will keep me going. I have businesses, I have management. There's much more to me than just a boxer. Advertisement 'I don't really need boxing. I'm only in boxing to achieve a goal of becoming world champion. This is my last chance of doing it so I've got to give it everything I can.' 'BIG CHANCE' Standing across from him on September 5 will be England's Jack Bateson, a 31-year-old from Leeds with 20 wins, one draw and one defeat. It is a bout Conlan will be favoured to win but he has come unstuck in those before, most recently against Jordan Gill in 2023. He added: 'Anybody who fights me, it's their big chance. No matter what stage of my career I'm at, I'm still a big name for anybody. Jack's going to come in to win. Advertisement 'How I'm moving at the minute and how things are moving at the minute for me, I'm very, very confident. I'll go in and do the job. But I know that I'll have a live threat in front of me. He's a former European medallist and a very good amateur. 'Probably not reached the levels as a pro yet but this is an opportunity to go and do it. So I've got to be on my A game to beat him.' When Conlan was a history-making amateur as the first Irishman to win gold at the World Championships, it seemed assured he would one day headline in Dublin as a pro — but there have been roadblocks. Firstly, Top Rank focused on making him an attraction Stateside and they largely pulled it off, with six of Conlan's first 13 fights taking place at Madison Square Garden's Theater. Advertisement There was an agreement in place for homecoming fights but they were staged in Belfast, with MTK Global, who represented Conlan at the time, not exactly welcome in Dublin. Those associations have come to an end, however, and Wasserman Boxing, who are now guiding his career, have been eager to explore options in the capital. It means Conlan — who effectively boxed out of Dublin when with the High Performance Unit in a time when he went to two Olympic Games, winning bronze at London 2012 — is back in a familiar setting. 'LONG TIME COMING' The 2015 RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year added: 'I'm very, very excited to be back here in Dublin. Advertisement 'I basically forged a lot of my amateur career here and a lot of my success has come in this city. Unbelievable times, coming here, not expected to win the national championships, not expected to qualify for the Games, qualified, then not expected to win a medal but I do.' He says boxing in Dublin again is an itch he had to scratch, insisting: 'It's a shame it's happening now when I'm in the twilight stage of my career. I'll still win a world title but it's been a long time coming and to finally be back here, I'm ecstatic. 'I'm really excited to go and fight in the 3Arena and be the first boxer to headline both North and South in the SSE and the 3. 'The fact that I'm doing it at this stage of the career doesn't really matter. As long as I'm doing it, that's the only thing that matters.'
ITV News
06-08-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Michael Conlan's desire to taste world title glory burns bright as ever
• Michael Conlan talks about his upcoming WBC International Featherweight title fight and his ambitions to make it to the top of boxing.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michael Conlan fight: Tickets, date, venue and more as boxing legend returns to the ring
Michael Conlan is set to square off against Jack Bateson at the 3Arena in Dublin on the 5th of September, marking his first professional bout in the Irish capital. The former Olympian, who clinched a bronze medal for Ireland at London 2012, is eyeing a victory to propel him towards another shot at a World title. Advertisement "I am truly honoured to be fighting in Dublin, for the first time in my professional career," Conlan expressed. READ MORE: Rory McIlroy sports fresh look ahead of the Open as he makes one young fan's day READ MORE: Rory McIlroy celebrated by NI ice-cream family in sweet tribute He reminisced about his amateur days, saying, "I boxed countless times in the city as an amateur, and achieved so much of my success there, so to finally be fighting in Dublin as a pro, is genuinely exciting." Conlan acknowledged the challenge ahead: "And it's a big fight too. I have plenty of respect for Jack Bateson, we have sparred many rounds, and he poses a real threat to my world title plans." Advertisement He added confidently, "I will have to be on my A-game to win this fight, but with the support of the fans in Dublin, we can make this a special night on my road back to the top." Tickets for Conlan's bout with Bateson go on sale at 10am this morning and can be purchased here.
