Mick Conlan backing Clonard club-mate Conor Quinn to “surprise a lot of people”
The last time a man from Clonard ABC went to a World Championships he came home with gold.
Mick Conlan became Ireland’s first ever Senior Male World Champion, taking gold at the 2015 edition of the tournament in Doha, Qatar, and capping an amazing run that saw him also take Commonwealth and European gold as well as Olympic qualification via the WSB.
Just over one year later, another skillful all-rounder from the Belfast club has flown east in search of World glory. Flyweight Conor Quinn will participate in the World Youth (Under-18) Championships in St Petersburg, Russia, which start tomorrow, and is one of a few dark horses on the Irish team.
Conlan, who won Olympic bronze in 2012 at flyweight, has high hopes for the grounded youngster who is returning to the Ireland squad after a frustrating period of injury.
Speaking to Irish-Boxing.com, the new Top Rank signing described how “Conor Quinn is a very unassuming kid. He’s quiet, he lives the life of a boxer, he doesn’t drink, doesn’t do any of that.”
“He’s a great kid, a great talent, and do you know what? He’s going to surprise a lot of people at the World Championships.”
Quinn steps through the ropes for the first time on Friday against Cuban Elio Crespo-Santos in the Round of 32.
Photo Credit: Mark Marlow
