2021 is still several weeks away from completion but already fight fans have something to look forward to next year.
Earlier this week it was announced that Matchroom Boxing had outbid Top Rank to stage the highly anticipated WBA featherweight title fight between champion Leigh Wood (Matchroom) and challenger Michael Conlan (Top Rank).
Reports suggest that Wood’s first defence could take place at three locations. The City Ground (home of Nottingham Forest FC who Wood supports), Madison Square Garden, New York or in Belfast. Boxing Social spoke to Conlan who gave his opinion or where the fight may land.
“My regular appearances are at New York or Belfast. I would love either or. Leigh Wood’s the champion, he wants the City Ground, but I do think March is probably a bit too early for an outdoor event. Winter is like December, February, March. I don’t think City Ground is doable if I’m honest but MSG, New York City that’s the dream. That’s where you want it, that’s where I would love it to happen. Whether it happens there or not I don’t know.”
Conlan then paused before adding:
“I think more than likely it will happen there.”
The unbeaten (16-0, 8 KOs) Northern Irishman sounded like the cat that got the cream when he gave his initial reaction to Boxing Social about fighting Wood next year.
“I’m delighted. Very, very happy. Excited. Can’t wait now.”
The two men chalked up their biggest and best victories of their careers in 2021. Conlan put in an impressive performance against TJ Doheny in August while Wood overpowered Xu Can to dominate the Chinese fighter and pick up the WBA title. A fight involving Conlan doesn’t need much selling thanks largely to his support and said he has nothing bad to say about Wood.
“I think Leigh Wood’s a great fighter. What he done to Can Xu hadn’t been seen before. His performance against Jazza, against Davey Oliver Joyce and so on. He’s been consistently performing over the last few fights. I’ve nothing bad to say about him, I don’t need to say anything bad about him to sell the fight. I do rate him. I do think he’s a good fighter but someone who I see flaws in where I can expose. I think I beat him comfortably by using my boxing skills.”
Conlan has had his doubters since turning professional but his display against Doheny showed a variety to his game which was brought to the table thanks to the control he had over his opponent. The unique roar of the Falls Park crowd took Conlan to a new level and at times he became a pressure fighter, boxing on the front foot much to the delight of the home support. The Olympic medallist has never been short of confidence but to his delight every aspect of his game seemed to come together against Doheny.
“I was in there with probably the best fighter I’ve faced yet and I went on to put on a dominant performance,” he said. “And when I wanted to, I could press forward or box on the back foot and either way, whatever way I was moving or doing I was still winning. I showed different aspects of my game.
“From 30 seconds into the fight I knew southpaw was going to be the answer. I think my biggest strength is my adaptability and my ability to figure someone out in very quick time and I think that’s showed in the TJ fight. In camp we were focusing on the in close as an orthodox fighter and I realised within 30 seconds nah southpaw and using my advantages to win this fight comfortably. I think it was my best performance.”
“Nobody keeps in consideration the magnitude of fights I’m having,” he added. “The atmosphere, the pressure which I’ve been under from day one. This being a world title fight is actually nothing new to what I’ve experienced. I’ve experienced everything you can experience. That big fight feel I’ve had more than most, even world champions. I’ve had the big fight feel for most of my fights.”
Which included that wild night four years ago at the Madison Square Garden Theatre for his debut.
“The debut alone was crazy,” he remembers. “The type of atmosphere, expectation, anticipation was huge. The fact I’ve dealt with that I don’t have to tick that box. That’s a box Leigh Wood actually has to tick because he fought for his first world title in front of nobody, a select few in a garden. I’ve fought in front of thousands for a long time. And he’s going to fight in front of a big crowd. I know he fought in front of a big crowd at York Hall but that’s York Hall this’ll be MSG or Belfast. A different ball game.”
Conlan told us his win over Doheny reaffirmed his belief about what he can deliver on the night. The pressure has been there since day one and it’s something he revels in. Walking to Edwin Starr’s ‘War’ stirred the crowd into a frenzy but that is all part and parcel of a Michael Conlan fight night. He has had it his own way so far but this time around Leigh Wood will be the fighter who provides the litmus test in his career to date.
“When you’re fighting someone who you’re meant to beat the expectation is huge,” Conlan says.
“I think that’s harder when you’re expected to win but when you’re the underdog and these fights are 50-50 or even 60-40 in your favour, and there are people saying you’ll lose, I love that. I love people doubting me and being negative. I’ve seen people saying Leigh Wood is going to knock me out which on paper, Leigh’s KO record, it’s a possibility. It’s boxing, everything’s possible. Things like that I’m happy to prove wrong and take apart those phrases that will be in the build-up. Leigh Wood himself, he believes he’s one of the biggest punchers in the world when you listen to him talk! He’ll be saying he’s going to knock me out, but I’ll be happy to prove him wrong.”