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Michael Conlan rubbishes weight drop reports

Micheal Conlan [12(7)-0] has rubbished claims he will drop down in weight for his next fight.

According to Top Rank boss Bob Arum, Conlan and Carl Frampton will both appear on the ESPN broadcast card topped by pound for pound star Terrence Crawford as he defends his title against Egidijus Kavaliauskas on December 11.

Yesterday ESPN, who considering they broadcast Top Rank fights are always considered a good source when it comes to Top Rank fighter info, reported the Belfast fighter would make the move down from 126lbs to 122lbs on the Madison Square Garden card.

A drop down to super bantam has been discussed by both the two time Olympian and his trainer Adam Booth.

It’s a weight they both believe is achievable, but insiders now suggest he may flirt with weighing in between to the two weights come December.

Regardless the switch hitter, who packed the Falls Park last time out, is adamant he won’t be leaving the featherweight division for December.

“I definitely won’t be moving down to super-bantamweight for my next fight,” Conlan told Belfast Live Sport.

“I have seen the reports and speculation, but I don’t know where that has come from.

“I understand that people might think I am moving down in weight. I fought as a super-bantamweight previously and I have spoken about potentially moving down.

“But it won’t be happening for my next fight. Definitely not.”

The reports also put forward two potential step up opponents in former world champion  Isaac Dogboe [20(14)-2(1)] or world title challenger Genesis Servania [32(15)-2(0)].

The more mouthwatering clash of the proposed two, London based Ghanaian Dogboe would look unlikely at feather. The former WBO super bantamweight world title holder may be two small at 5’2 to compete in the higher weight class.

However, Servania has competed  at elite level at 126lbs losing out to Conlan’s former gym mate Oscar Valdez in a world title fight.

The World amateur Championship gold medal winner, who has March 2020 world title hopes, didn’t mention any names but did reveal he expects to confirm an exciting opponent for New York hosted TV fight.

“There are some exciting opponents out there who we are looking at for December.
It will be another step up, no doubt about that. I always want to keep pushing forward and testing myself. It will be another good test and another step on my journey to becoming world champion.”

dpg

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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