Headline News

Friendship pushes Frampton fight to the sidelines for Mick Conlan


It would take exceptional money and circumstances for Michael Conlan to agree to trade leather with fellow Belfast name Carl Frampton.

Amidst the fanfare of turning over the former World amateur champion said by the time he retired he wanted to be known as Ireland’s great and was open about wanting to fight Ireland’s current leading light Frampton.

Indeed, the younger brother of World title challenger Jamie Conlan, went as far as to say “it’s a fight I’ve always said I wanted, so hopefully one day it happens,” before his massive 2017 debut. 

However, Conlan’s tone has changed since he struck up a friendship with Frampton and the featherweights became managerial stablemates, and he now claims the fight is unlikely.

‘The Jackal, who tops a Windsor Park bill just weeks after Conlan brings a card to the SSE arena, has recently sang off the same hymn sheet stating an all Belfast featherweight clash is unlikely. 

Speaking to World Boxing News in the build up to his homecoming set for Belfast this Saturday, Conlan stressed he has changed his mind about a possible clash with the former two weight world champ.

“Before when I was younger I used to think I would have loved it, but the fact that we’re with the same management team now and I’m actually friends with Carl, no,” the 26-year-old said when asked about a potential meeting.

“At the same time Carl is in the last few years of his career and I’m just getting started so I don’t see our paths crossing.”

That said, if things were different, and everything had lined up, Conlan admits that a big-money all-Belfast bout would appeal.

“If we passed each other at the right time and the money was right and everything was right 100% I would take the fight.”

As Conlan notes, he is miles behind Frampton in terms of career-stage – however, he gets the opportunity to move up in level this Saturday night when he takes on recent World title challenger Adeilson Dos Santos.

‘The Jackal’, meanwhile, defends his WBO interim title and looks to position himself for a shot at world honours when he takes on Aussie Luke Jackson at Windsor Park.

dpg

logo may

irishboxing

Integral part of the Irish boxing community for over 13 years

x