FOR Michael Conlan, the opportunity to perform in Dublin, Ireland, for the first time as a professional has, perhaps more so than the fight itself, gotten his competitive juices flowing.
‘Irish Mick’ has fought in Belfast, Northern Ireland, multiple times throughout his pro career, but only now has he been presented with the chance to stage a dustup down south.
It promises to be quite the occasion, too, as the 33-year-old expects nothing less than a sold-out crowd when he faces former sparring partner Jack Bateson at the 3Arena.
Squaring off on September 5, the pair will headline a Wasserman Boxing card that has also confirmed the return of former world champion Charlie Edwards.
The bantamweight operator suffered a split decision defeat to Andrew Cain earlier this year, but now looks to get back to winning ways under the tutelage of trainer Stephen Smith.
As for Conlan, a loss to Bateson would be not too far removed from catastrophic, particularly when considering the world title aspirations that he evidently still has at featherweight.
The two-time Olympian returned to the win column against Asad Asif Khan last March, his points victory following back-to-back stoppage defeats against Luis Alberto Lopez and Jordan Gill.
But still, Conlan has lofty desires to claw himself back to the pinnacle of his sport, starting with a long-awaited night in Dublin.
“I am truly honoured to be fighting in Dublin for the first time in my professional career,” he said in a press release.
“I boxed countless times in the city as an amateur, and achieved so much of my success there, so to finally be fighting in Dublin as a pro is genuinely exciting.
“And it’s a big fight, too. I have plenty of respect for Jack Bateson, we have sparred many rounds, and he poses a real threat to my world title plans.”
Bateson, meanwhile, comes off a two-round technical draw against Danny Quartermaine, with his only other blemish arriving against crafty technician Shabaz Masoud in 2022.
Back then, the Yorkshireman was forced to suffer a 12th-round stoppage defeat, but has since proven to be a sturdy customer on the domestic scene.
