WBO No.1 contender Michael Conlan is on course for his super-bantamweight world title shot against reigning champion Stephen Fulton at the end of the year, according to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
The unbeaten Belfast star will first face Romanian dangerman Ionut Baluta, the WBO’s No.9 contender, on the same show as IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane’s defence against Londoner Sunny Edwards on April 30.
A victory there will tee up former amateur star Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) for his first world title tilt against unbeaten Philadelphian Fulton (19-0, 8 KOs) by the end of 2021. Baluta has previously upset Irishmen TJ Doheny (W8) and Davey Oliver Joyce (WTKO3) in 2020 so brings good form.
“Mick will fight at the start of May and then the plan will be to move for the world title shot,” Arum told The Belfast Telegraph. “We could put that on in Madison Square Garden and he would fill it up. I’m very encouraged that the pandemic will be abated in the States because we are now looking that by the end of May there will be enough vaccines to inoculate all of the population. So, by June we can start doing events with full capacity.”
Jamie Conlan, brother and manager of Michael, feels the Madrid-based Baluta (14-2, 3 KOs) presents a stout and marketable test, having previously performed beating other Irishmen on away soil.
“We’re looking at towards the end of the year for the fight with Fulton so if everything goes to plan against Baluta we are still holding out some hope of another fight in August in Belfast but obviously we know at the moment that is unlikely. But the bigger picture is dealing with Baluta and then we are firmly in the position to face Fulton,” said Jamie Conlan.
“Baluta is gunning for a hat-trick over Irish fighters and we know that at this stage of Michael’s career he is going to be a good test. Baluta showed how dangerous he is with the wins over Doheny and David Oliver Joyce so it’s just the fight Michael needs ahead of a world title shot.”