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Mick Conlan eyes future fights with Rigondeaux and Lomachenko


Michael Conlan believes he is capable of competing with the world’s best in the future ahead of his support bout at Madison Square Garden this weekend.

The Belfast featherweight is on something of a scouting mission to assess Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux in New York on Saturday night.

The Ukrainian and Cuban double Olympic gold medalists face-off in a WBO super featherweight title fight at The Theater in Madison Square Garden.

Falls Road fighter Conlan [4(4)-0] features on the undercard where he will take on Argentinean Luis Fernando Molina [7(2)-3(0)-1] over six rounds.

It is a return to the venue where the 26 year old made his unprecedented debut back in March, and Conlan is dreaming of big fights down the line with the likes of the combatants in this weekend’s the main event.

“I think both Rigo and Lomachenko are unbelievable fighters,” said Conlan. “I’ve looked up to them my whole amateur career and now obviously in my professional career.

“But one day soon I expect to be fighting one of them, so I wouldn’t feel star stuck about being on the bill or anything like that.

“I’m fighting on the bill with two of the greatest amateurs to ever live and potentially two Hall of Fame pros as well so it is exciting – but I always have the end goal in mind as well, which is that one of them could be a future opponent.”

Conlan participated in a media workout session yesterday at Mendez’s Gym on East 26th Street in Manhattan just ahead of the main-event fighters and he welcomed the chance to assess two of boxing’s most stylish elite fighters.

“I consider this an opportunity to see where I’m at and where they’re at and I’ll take it from there. I’m just watching and learning because I know they’re ahead of me, but I know it’s not going to be too long before I get to that stage,” continued Ireland’s two-time Olympian, who admitted that a fight against either Rigondeaux or Lomachenko is still a long time time away.

Indeed the California-based fighter won’t be calling either of the headliners out just yet.

“I’m not going to be offending anyone or anything like that,” joked Conlan. “There’s no point because a fight against either one of them is still obviously a bit away and there’s no point in me calling them out or anything like that.”

“They’re focused on their fights and they won’t be bothered with what I’m saying. I won’t be doing any crazy s**t!”

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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