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Jamie Conlan “deflated” by change of opponent but comforted by bigger picture

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Jamie Conlan [17(11)-0] admits to being disappointed at seeing his fight in Belfast on Saturday downgraded from a Commonwealth title defence to an eight-round affair, but takes comfort from the bigger picture that his team have in store for him.

‘The Mexican’ had hoped to defend his super flyweight rainbow belt at the Titanic Exhibition Centre against Tanzanian Julias Kisarawe [22(11)-3(1)-1] but saw this fight shelved due to work visa issues. In the African’s place steps in unheralded Hungarian reserve David Koos [8(2)-2(1)-1] for an eight round contest which has been bumped down the bill.

While frustrated with the change of opponent, the Belfast man is still looking forward to the opportunity of putting into practice what he has leaned during a long and tough camp ahead of a WBO 115lbs final eliminator next year.

Asked by Irish-Boxing.com if he was happy with his opponent, Conlan replied “yes and no – no because of the opponent, and yes because of the bigger picture.”

“When I got told the other day I was instantly deflated and I was struggling to get up for it. I was very down about it because I wanted a test, I had trained for 12 weeks, pushing myself to the limits for a test and an opportunity to show what we had worked on in camp.”

“But then when I came round and spoke to the team and understood that there’s a bigger picture, a wider picture beyond this, and that this is just a stepping stone on to bigger and better things and I need to get him out of the way before I move on to bigger and better things and harder fights.”

Noting the difficulties that a change of opponent can bring, Conlan described how “it’s disrespectful, but you’re kind of caught in a crossroads where you can’t take anyone lightly, you have to be one hundred percent professional, but then you sort of have the other side of your head where you’re downplaying everything, you were expecting more, and now it’s come down to a certain level.”

“I got to get in, keep my head on the job, do what I gotta do, and show what I learned in camp so they aren’t wasted and show that they are part of my arsenal for the fights in the future. Every camp is important, I feel that I learn more in the camps than I do in the fights – as you’ve seen in the past fights I’ve been stupid.”

“The main thing is that I have to control the controllables, which is what I do.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

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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