Belfast featherweight Michael Conlan jumped to 5-0 as a pro over the weekend and he will return to the ring on St Patrick’s Day next year
Michael Conlan will make a step up in opposition in 2018, according to MTK Global co-founder Matthew Macklin, following the Belfast featherweight’s latest victory in New York last Saturday night.
Former world amateur champion Conlan moved to 5-0 (4KOs) as a pro with a comprehensive six-round points win over Argentina’s Luis Fernando Molina at Madison Square Garden’s Theater.
Fighting on the undercard of Vasyl Lomachenko’s successful WBO world super-featherweight title defence over Guillermo Rigondeaux, 26-year-old Conlan featured in the chief-support bout ahead of his fellow Olympic medallists.
The Irishman headlined at the same venue on his pro debut last March and the MTK Global-managed fighter will return to MSG once again on another Top Rank-promoted bill on St Patrick’s Day 2018.
Photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
“I think Paddy’s Day will be the next fight, so he’ll go home and enjoy Christmas and the new year, rest up and build up towards Paddy’s Day,” said Macklin, who predicted that 2018 will be a big year for Conlan.
“The first year with his pro debut was huge. They [Top Rank] have kept the ball rolling since. He’s had massive hype and he’s had a year in the gyms here, sparring with the likes of Oscar Valdez and Jessie Magdeleno.
“He knows what the pro game is all about now. I think next year they’ll start stepping him up. He’s got six rounds under his belt – that will stand him in good stead and who knows, Paddy’s Day could be an eight-rounder.
“Maybe they’ll go six [rounds] again, we’ll see, but I think certainly the one after will be an eight-rounder and we’ll look at stepping up the opposition slowly but surely.”
Conlan delivered an impressive switch-hitting display to dominate all six rounds against durable 29-year-old Buenos Aires native Molina, who carried a 7-3-1 record into the fight.
Boxing as a southpaw for much of the fight, the Irishman cruised to a shut-out 60-54 victory on all three judges’ cards.
“I think that’s the best he’s boxed so far in his pro career,” said Macklin. “There’s big pressure on him in the sense that he’s getting these great slots and great exposure, which is what you want, but you have to remember they’re only his first few professional fights.
“He’s been a little bit too eager at times… but I think in this fight he really settled down and found a rhythm and his distance.
“His shot selection was really good and I thought he boxed really well from the southpaw stance,” added the MTK Global fight adviser.
While Conlan eased to victory, the bout marked the first time that the Falls Road fighter has gone six rounds as his previous four paid wins came via early stoppages.
However, Macklin was happy to see the Manny Robles-trained fighter bag rounds and pro experience.
“It’s nice to get stoppages, but to be honest, Mick’s not really a one-punch concussive heavy hitter,” said the former world middleweight title challenger. “That’s not his style. His style is that he’s very clever, he has a good judgement of distance and a good variety of shots.
“He’s almost a bit of a counterpuncher when he’s at his best and he was treading shots through the middle, finding gaps, setting traps and using his feints.
“He used the ring and his upper-body movement was good. I think that’s the best he’s boxed so far,” added Macklin.
Meanwhile, MTK Global-managed Seán Turner and Archie Sharp both recorded wins on Saturday night in Europe.
Dublin heavyweight Turner (12-1, 8KOs) recorded a career-best eight-round knockout win over Arnold Gjergjaj in Basel, while Welling super-featherweight prospect Sharp (11-0, 6KOs) defeated Rafael Castillo over eight rounds in London.
