Carl Frampton predicts breakthrough night for Mick Conlan
Carl Frampton believes that Saturday night is crucial for the career of Mick Conlan for a number of reasons.
The Belfast featherweight headlines a card at the SSE Odyssey Arena in what will be his first professional contest on Irish soil, taking on Brazilian former world title challenger Adeilson Dos Santos over eight rounds.
Frampton, a managerial stablemate of the 26-year-old, has been a vocal supporter of Conlan, with the two-weight pro world champion labelling the amateur world champion a more technically talented fighter than him.
The Tiger’s Bay man is currently in England preparing for his own Belfast headline date – he fulfils a Windsor Park dream versus Aussie Luke Jackson on August 18th – but he will be cheering on the Falls Road fighter this weekend.
The stage and the standard of opposition has Conlan’s fellow Titanic featherweight convinced that Saturday night will be a breakthrough night for the Olympic bronze medallist.
A tough opponent, Frampton feels, will help develop both Conlan and a home fanbase.
Writing in his weekly column for the Sunday Life, ‘The Jackal’ explained how “Michael Conlan is taking a step up in class this Saturday night at the SSE Odyssey Arena in a fight that I believe can help him start to build a very good local fan base.”
“It’s one thing boxing on the East Coast of America and generating support and it’s great what he has done, but Belfast is where it is at in terms of passionate fans and Mick has the class and the charisma that deserves a huge following here.”
“If he is to be remembered for a long time as one of Irish boxing’s great professional fighters then having big, important nights here is crucial and this is his first real test since signing with American outfit Top Rank. It’s exactly what he wants.”
Dos Santos has a part to play and, should he provide a test, Frampton believes this will contribute to a famous Belfast atmosphere.
The 31-year-old noted how “former World title challenger Adeilson Dos Santos is just the opponent Mick needs at this point because he’s no pushover and that’s what the fans here want to see.”
“They [the fans] want to see guys in tough fights and this is one in which Mick can show everyone the world-class potential he has and at the same time the American audience on ESPN will get a taste of the passionate support in Belfast.”
