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Mick Conlan believes Conor McGregor friendship may have soured following fight prediction


Conor McGregor won’t be walking Michael Conlan to the ring again any time soon.

‘The Notorious’ added serious eyes to already one of the most high-profile debuts in modern boxing history two years ago.

Having been asked by Conlan the year previous, the Dublin mixed martial artist would accompany Conlan to the ring for his St Patrick’s Day debut headline fight at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

It added further flair to an already brash ring walk full of showmanship, with multiple songs and an Apollo Creed-style top hat, and drew further spotlight onto the former amateur World Champion as he made step one on a what looks to be a promising pro journey.

The Belfast fighter went on to register a stoppage win over Tim Ibarra while McGregor, a former Crumlin BC amateur, used the platform to bait Floyd Mayweather via the boxing press. 

Conlan [10(6)-0] returned to New York to headline without McGregor [0-1(1)] last year and played his part in another massive event and the UFC two-weight champ won’t be in tow this year either.

McGregor, who has been ringside to support Katie Taylor in Boston and is in contact with a number of pro boxer friends, hasn’t been speaking to Conlan much of late.

Indeed, the Top Rank fighter, who takes on Ruben Garcia Hernandez on a card that includes Paddy Barnes and Lee Reeves this coming Sunday points out the pair haven’t really been in contact much since Conlan tipped Floyd Mayweather to beat the UFC fighter in their money making showcase back in August 2017.

“Nah, nah not we don’t keep in touch as much,” explained Conlan when Pundit Arena asked him about the Dubliner.

“No No. We were talking for a while but when the McGregor vs Mayweather fight was happening, I said Floyd would win and I haven’t heard much from him since.”

“I don’t know if that kinda annoyed him or anything but I was just being honest.”

McGregor had contacted Conlan during the latter’s amateur career and a relationship would develop.

The Dubliner would gift the Falls Road man a pair of boots and, on Conlan’s recommendation, would bring Newry southpaw Conor Wallace into his camp as a crucial sparring partner for his rematch with Nate Diaz.

Conlan was then invited into the McGregor camp as an advisor in the lead-in to the Mayweather fight – for which Omagh’s Tiernan Bradley was a sparring partner – although he would not take up the offer.

However, things have seemingly cooled since his correct prediction.

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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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