Michael Conlan says he hopes to face Josh Warrington in a featherweight unification this summer at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Before any such plan can be put in place both men have difficult fights to overcome first. On March 12 Conlan will go into the lion’s den with his travelling support to challenge Leigh Wood for the WBA featherweight title at Nottingham Arena. A fortnight later Josh Warrington aims to become a two-time champion at 126lbs when he faces Kiko Martinez for the IBF strap at Leeds Arena, five years on from their first encounter at the same venue.
Conlan and Wood came face-to-face in Nottingham yesterday for the first of two press conferences with the second leg taking place in Belfast today. Boxing Social’s Andi Purewal caught up with Conlan and asked him about Martinez v Warrington 2.
“It’s a good fight. 50-50 fight. Kiko’s not the same guy the first time he fought Josh, but he still has that power and is still showing he has that power. It’s going to be a good fight. Josh isn’t the same guy when he beat Kiko. He had that air of invincibility that he couldn’t be hurt but he has been hurt. It’s a pick em’ fight.”
Wood and Warrington’s promoter Eddie Hearn told Boxing Social on Wednesday that he hopes the winners of both fights go on to face one another in a unification showdown.
Asked who he would rather face between Martinez and Warrington, a stone-faced Conlan instantly replied: “Warrington.” The 2016 Olympic Bronze medallist explained why. “Just because it’s a bigger fight. Definitely do Madison Square Garden. Be unbelievable in the summer. Warrington would be the one I would prefer to win. I probably want Kiko to win more because I know Kiko personally. But I’d prefer Josh to win.”Click here to watch our interview with Michael Conlan in full.