Irish star Michael Conlan has identified Isaac Dogboe and Ionut Baluta as potential opponents ahead of his final appearance of the year at the Royal Albert Hall on December 5.
The gifted Conlan, currently rated No.2 by the WBO at 122lbs, appears destined to fight for a world crown in 2021 and looked sharp and spiteful stopping former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht in 10 rounds in August.
Former WBO champion Isaac Dogboe recently called out the Irishman and Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) readily accepted that challenge, stating he had no issues with making that fight. Now it appears the Ghanaian has had second thoughts, citing a move to featherweight with Conlan recently moving in the opposite direction to 122lbs.
“As soon as I heard he was talking about fighting me, I said to Jamie [Conlan’s brother and manager], ‘Make that fight’. Now Dogboe is saying he won’t go back to 122lbs but he’s the one who’s been calling me out, so I don’t understand it – maybe he just wants to keep his name in the mix?” Conlan told the Irish News.
“I’ll face him if he does come down to 122, if not I would fight Ionut Baluta, the guy who beat David Oliver Joyce. I think he’s being spoken about and that’s another fight I would happily take. I think I would do a good job on him and look good doing so. He’s a good fighter – you don’t beat guys like David Oliver – if you’re not. He’d be a dangerman for anybody. So I’d be happy to face him, or Dogboe or whoever.
“At the moment, I don’t know what the plan is or who the plan is for, I just know I have to be ready for December 5. I told Jamie, ‘I don’t care who you put in front of me, I don’t care who you get, I’ll fight anybody’. That’s how I feel. I think he’s happy with that approach and [to] go ahead and get working on things.”
Main image: Queensberry Promotions.