Top Prospect Jamie Conlan ready for his pro debut on Sexton-Rogan undercard

By Brendan Galbraith - There are three major boxing events all taking place in Northern Ireland tomorrow night - Rogan-Sexton rematch at the Odyssey in Belfast, The Mike Tyson show is happening less than a mile away and the McCloskey-Rasilla bill is taking place about 35 miles away in Magherafelt in Derry. Therefore, you could be forgiven for overlooking some of the emerging talent that features on the under cards of both bills.

Tomorrow night the highly rated Irish Flyweight, Jamie Conlan will be making his pro debut on the under card of the Rogan-Sexton bill.. Conlan will contest a four-rounder with an awkward opponent in Anwar Alfadi, who was in a lively fistic duel with Belfast man Luke Wilton on the first Rogan-Sexton bill – resulting in a draw. I spoke to Jamie at today’s weigh in and he was both confident and excited about making his pro debut in front of a passionate Belfast crowd.

This confidence is well placed. I spoke to another outstanding prospect, Carl Frampton, who is making his home pro debut in Derry on the McCloskey v Rasilla under card tomorrow night and predicted that his “good friend” Conlan could very well be fighting for a British Title in the next 12-18 months. As you will discern from the interview below, this prediction is anchored on an outstanding amateur pedigree that has seen Conlan secure 4 Ulster Senior Titles, 3 Irish Titles in close to 100 fights - including a win over Scotland’s Kris Hughes (9-0).

BG: Jamie, tell me about your transition to the pro ranks?

I have found it easy enough, we will find out tomorrow night, John Breen and Eamon Magee have been happy with my progress and I am learning something new every day.

BG: Your opponent tomorrow night, fought Luke Wilton on the first Rogan-Sexton bill…

I was at the last Sexton-Rogan bill, I watched it in the stands, it was decent scrap. I have been sparring Luke all of last week, but come fight night I will just do what I do and stick to my own game plan.

BG: How has the sparring been going?

It has been going great. I was sparring Andy Murray (shortly before he had his injury), the EU lightweight Champion and another lightweight and then Luke came in last week. So, I sparring a different range of fighters. I have been doing different things and trying to learn different things in sparring.

BG: As you are about to make your pro debut, some of our readers might not be familiar with you yet, can you tell me a little bit about your amateur background?

I have had close to 100 amateur fights. I won 4 Ulster Senior Titles, 3 Irish Titles, 2 under-21s, Four-Nations Titles, and numerous multi-nations and in American I got a Best boxer award and also during a tour of Canada.

BG: In your amateur days, have you faced any names that are now operating in the pro ranks?

Kris Hughes from Scotland, I beat Kris Hughes. There have been a few others, but I am trying to remember their names, but there have been a good lot.

BG: What attracted you to get into boxing in the first place?

At the start, about 10 or 11 years of age, I was messing about in the street and then my da brought me in by the scruff of the neck and told me that you have to do it for one year and after the year I don’t care what you do – you stay at it for a year. And I did it. I went to watch my younger brother – he was the one who was all into it – I wasn’t really. I was going to watch him fight one night and he wouldn’t fight – so I took the fight – and after that I feel in love with it. That was it – at 10 years of age.

BG: What boxers do look up to these days – who was your favourite domestic and international fighters?

Internationally, it is Eric Morales. I love his style, I love the way he fights. He can make it look easy if he wants, but just that heart and bravado, that makes him want to scrap it out.

Irish boxers – I like Bernard Dunne, I like Paul McCloskey, I like Matthew Macklin, Big Rogie and Neil Sinclair – most of them. Just look around the gym [i.e. the impressive stable of boxers in John Breen’s gym].

BG: How much are you looking forward to getting out in front of a big passionate Irish crowd at the Oydssey?

I was there the last time [at Rogan-Sexton 1) and I was watching it the last time and I was shouting my head off and now people will be shouting their head off for me the last time. I cant wait. We are all from the same road, myself, Rogan, Kevin O’Hara and Martin Lindsay – so I cant wait.