Off the back of a heartbreaking defeat to Luis Alberto Lopez in Belfast, Michael Conlan looks to bounce back at his return to the SSE Arena to fight Jordan Gill this Saturday.
When is it on?
The event takes place in the SSE Arena, Belfast, starting at 7pm (Stream the fight here.) The ring walks for the main event are yet to be confirmed but it is expected that Conlan v Gill will start around 10.30pm, depending on how the other fights go.
These are the other confirmed fights on the card:
- Caoimhin Agyarko vs. Troy Williamson
- Tyrone McKenna vs. Lewis Crocker
- Gerard Hughes vs. Ruadhan Farrell
- Sean McComb v Sam Maxwell
Cameron Voung, Feaghus Quinn and Emmanuel Buttegieg are also on the card.
How to watch
The card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe. You can sign up here
Conlan- "He’s got me back to being me."
Conlan has expressed how difficult that defeat for the world featherweight in his home town was on him and his team. Conlan made the brave decision to switch coaching ticket, changing to a man who he describes as a 'boxing genius' in Pedro Diaz. Conlan was full of praise for the Miami-based coach;
“Working with Pedro has been fantastic, he’s a very smart coach, a very experienced coach who has been through the lot – 21 Olympic champions, 18 world champions…
The former World Amateur Champion didn't feel he needed to re invent the wheel, simply get back to what he knows and feels most comfortable doing. He believes Diaz has brought that out in him;
He’s got me back to being me. He’s not teaching me new things, not trying to change what I do but using the best assets I have which are my legs, my skill and everything like that. It’s not about trying to have a fight all the time, it’s using my boxing ability and it’s been great.
Conlan expressed his excitement to be back in front of his home crowd and the fact he feels totally revitalised after an extended period where the sport he loves was taking it's toll on the 32 year old:
I feel fantastic and excited about Saturday. It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve actually been looking forward to the fight rather than looking forward to it being over and done with and having the win. I’m looking forward to actually fighting and putting on a show.
"Katie was inspirational"-Conlan
Conlan has also made special mention of Katie Taylor's inspirational victory against Chantelle Cameron on Saturday night. Taylor and Conlan lost their title fights in consecutive weeks back in May, which felt like a hammer blow for Irish boxing. In a week which had promised so much in the build up;
Katie was inspirational. People wrote her off. I thought she was crazy taking the rematch but I said: ‘I don’t know how she wins but I believe she will win’.
She went back to using her skillset, her boxing ability – she was faster and she used her legs, she didn’t try to just fight the whole time. She used her skills and it was perfect, I’m really happy for her.”
Jordan Gill also seeking a bounce back
Jordan Gill and Conlan will know each other all too well leading in to Saturday. The pair were once sparring partners. The relationship has soured in recent years after the pair confronted each other in the ring after Leigh Wood fight in Sheffield. Gill said of that interaction;
I remember exactly what he said. He said, 'I'm gonna smoke ya.' I said, 'alright.' Then he told me, 'Don't worry I won't beat you too bad.' I mean all I could think was make your mind up.
Gill has changed his coaching ticket in the past but one constant has remained, his father Paul. Gill has reinforced that his father has been in his corner for any major fight, even if the trainers or management is different.
Gill's last fight came nearly a year ago to the day when he fought Kiko Martinez. It was probably the toughest night of Gill's professional career after three previous knock downs, it was the fourth that finished Gill off. Martinez was the winner by TKO in the fourth round of a fight where Gill looked out of his depth.
The SSE Arena will provide a raucous atmosphere as boxing returns to Belfast on Saturday night and the home town boy is looking to, in his words, "Put on a show."
