Adam Booth Praises Brave Michael Conlan

Adam Booth commended Michael Conlan’s guts after a fight in which his skill set and guile were more prevalent.

Conlan outboxed Miguel Marriaga for the majority of the pairs bill topping fight in the SSE Arena on August 6.

Apart from a moment in the last round, the Belfast feather was comfortable throughout, as his natural talent allowed him to outwit and outbox the former world title challenger in his first fight since a first career defeat to Leigh Wood suffered in March.

It didn’t appear the kind of bout – last few seconds aside – where Conlan had to show his bravery or stomach for a battle, although his coach suggests otherwise.

Booth, who guided Andy Lee and Ryan Burnett to world title wins, claims the Olympic medal winner’s choice of opponent alone showed real mental courage.

The Booth’s Gym boss doesn’t think many active fighters would fight a known puncher with world-level experience in their first fight since a stoppage defeat.

“There were obvious boxes ticked and great discipline,” said Booth after the fight.

“How many people come off a knockout loss and fight someone who has got 26 knockouts from 30 wins?

“He really put a demon to bed as he tested himself. He said to me that every time Marriaga was landing to the body, he could feel it as he was so heavy-handed. He was buzzed heavily in the last round and turned the tables on it.

“It was a shame with the knockdowns as the ring canvas was slippery and made it unfair on Marriaga. Maybe that wound him up a bit more, but overall I’m delighted.”

Ireland’s only World Championship gold medalwinner stuck to the game plan throughout and avoided the Conlan family’s desire to go to boxing war.

Booth claims he also avoided getting over excited when on top, something they suggest cost him against Wood.

“It’s about not getting drunk on his own success, reigning it in when you do have success so you don’t give away opportunities to a dangerous puncher.

“When you are in there for so long with a heavy-handed fighter, you have to expect you’ll get buzzed, so I thought that was a great performance.

“When he was buzzed in the last round, he used his legs a little bit, stayed small, scrapped with him and even though he was buzzed, technically he was doing the right things.

“He proved in the Leigh Wood fight that he arrived and proved tonight that he can come back from a bad loss,” he adds before commenting on what might be next.

“Mick is popular and that popularity brings money and that money brings the opportunities, so let’s just wait and see what happens now.”