Michael Conlan (boxer)

Conlan was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His father and coach, John, hails from Drimnagh, Dublin.{{cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/cash-boost-to-help-northern-irelandrsquos-boxing-clubs-off-the-ropes-16195786.html|title=Cash boost to help Northern Ireland's boxing clubs off the ropes|work=The Belfast Telegraph|date=10 August 2012}} His elder brother, Jamie, was also a professional boxer.

Conlan won his first Ulster novice title at the age of 11, and is a three-time Irish national flyweight champion.{{cite news|url=http://www.thescore.ie/london-2012-introducing-michael-conlan-503598-Jun2012/ |title=London 2012: Introducing... Michael Conlan |work=The Score |date=29 June 2012 |access-date=29 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808191439/http://www.thescore.ie/london-2012-introducing-michael-conlan-503598-Jun2012/ |archive-date=8 August 2014 }}

In his debut match at the 2012 Olympics, he defeated Ghanaian boxer Duke Micah, having received a bye in the first round.{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/sport/other-sports/walsh-conlan-must-control-his-emotions-3189010.html|title=Walsh: Conlan must control his emotions|newspaper=Evening Herald|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=3 August 2012|access-date=3 August 2012}} In the quarter final, he defeated French boxer Nordine Oubaali by 22–18, guaranteeing himself a bronze medal.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/other/2012/0807/1224321708392.html|title=Brilliant Conlan adds another medal|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=7 August 2012|access-date=7 August 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19173282|title=London 2012: Boxer Michael Conlan clinches third Irish medal|work=BBC News |date=7 August 2012|access-date=7 August 2012}} Conlan lost his semi-final bout against Cuba's eventual gold medallist Robeisy Ramírez.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0810/ireland-olympics-boxing.html|title=Michael Conlan beaten in Olympic semi-final|publisher=RTÉ News|date=10 August 2012|access-date=10 August 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.com/athlete/conlan-michael-1046565/|title=Profile|date=1 August 2012|work=London 2012 Official Site|access-date=1 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128014500/http://www.london2012.com/athlete/conlan-michael-1046565/|archive-date=28 January 2013|df=dmy-all}}

Conlan won a silver medal at the 2013 European Championships in Minsk, losing to Welsh boxer Andrew Selby by 1:2.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxingnews24.com/2013/06/andrew-selby-defeats-michael-conlan/|title=Andrew Selby defeats Michael Conlan ⋆ Boxing News 24|last=News|first=Boxing|date=2013-06-08|website=Boxing News 24|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-23}}

Conlan moved up from flyweight to bantamweight and on 2 August 2014 won the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, beating England's Qais Ashfaq. Conlan won despite only returning to training two weeks prior following an injury.{{cite news|title=Northern Ireland gets second gold medal with Conlan bantamweight win|url=http://www.irishsun.com/index.php/sid/224382507/scat/aba4168066a10b8d/ht/Northern-Ireland-gets-second-gold-medal-with-Conlan-bantamweight-win|access-date=2 August 2014|publisher=Irish Sun.com}}{{cite web | url = http://results.glasgow2014.com/athlete/boxing/1034814/m_conlan.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140801141634/http://results.glasgow2014.com/athlete/boxing/1034814/m_conlan.html | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 1 August 2014 | title = Michael Conlan | publisher = Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games | access-date = 9 August 2014}}

2015 started off with Conlan competing in the World Series of Boxing for Italia Thunder. Conlan and his teammate, fellow Irish boxer Paddy Barnes, would compete in seven fights over 14 weeks in an effort to try and secure qualification for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Conlan racked up five wins out of seven, which was just enough for him to finish second in the individual ranking and secure an Olympic berth in Rio.

In August 2015 Conlan won the European Championships at bantamweight and scooped Boxer of the Tournament. He competed in four fights beating; French, Danish, Italian and Great Britain representatives. He only lost 3 rounds out of a possible 36 on individual judges' scorecards. His final was a repeat of the 2014 Commonwealth Games final against Great Britain's Qais Ashfaq. Conlan took the first in what was a very technical encounter, the Belfast man took the second on a split, by the third round the No.1 seed (Conlan) was in cruise control which saw him take the round and the fight unanimously to retain Ireland's hold on the European bantamweight title and the best boxer award (both of which John Joe Nevin won in 2013).

In October 2015, Conlan won the gold medal in the bantamweight division at the 2015 World Championships.{{cite web|url= http://www.the42.ie/michael-conlan-world-boxing-championships-gold-medal-2388862-Oct2015/|title=Conlan becomes the first Irishman to win gold at the World Boxing Championships|date=14 October 2015|work=The 42|access-date=15 October 2015}} It was Ireland's first ever male World Championship gold medal.{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/boxing/michael-conlan-i-told-everyone-i-would-be-world-champion-you-can-call-me-the-conor-mcgregor-of-boxing-31611678.html|title=Michael Conlan: I told everyone I would be world champion – you can call me the Conor McGregor of boxing!|date=15 October 2015|work=Irish Independent|access-date=15 October 2015}}{{cite web|url= http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2015/1014/734790-live-boxing-michael-conlan-michael-oreilly-world/|title=Michael Conlan wins World Championship gold|date=15 October 2015|work=RTÉ Sport|access-date=15 October 2015}}

In December 2015, Conlan was named as the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/other-sport/2015/1219/755196-sports-awards/|title= Michael Conlan named RTÉ Sport Person of the Year|date=19 December 2015|work=RTÉ Sport|access-date=21 December 2015}}

In the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Conlon endured "daylight robbery" by losing his quarter-final on a "truly awful verdict to a blood-spattered Russian" Vladimir Nikitin.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/michael-conlan-olympics-2-2931415-Aug2016/|title=Daylight robbery as Michael Conlan denied Olympic medal by more farcical judging|date=16 August 2016|work=The 42|accessdate= 2 July 2021}}[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boxing/michael-conlan-vs-adeilson-dos-santos-belfast-fight-return-conor-mcgregor-rio-2016-rant-video-a8416101.html 'From the Rio Olympics to Belfast via Conor McGregor and New York"]. The Independent, 25 June 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2024 Conlon protested in the ring and said that he had been "robbed" of his Olympic dream.

The Russian subsequently withdrew from his semi-final due to the seriousness of injuries inflicted by Conlon.

[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-37111428 'Michael Conlan: Opponent Vladimir Nikitin out of Rio semis because of injury']. BBC Sport, 18 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2024

Won bronze in the 2012 Summer Olympics at flyweight. Results were:

• {{flagicon|GHA}} Duke Micah: Won (19:8)
• {{flagicon|FRA}} Nordine Oubaali: Won (22:18)
• {{flagicon|CUB}} Robeisy Ramírez: Lost (20:10)

Won silver in the 2013 European Championships at flyweight. Results were:

• {{flagicon|ARM}} Narek Abgaryan: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|Belarus}} Siarhej Loban: Won (TKO 2)
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Ovik Oganisyan: Won (2:1)
• {{flagicon|WAL}} Andrew Selby: Lost (1:2)

Conlan won Gold in the Commonwealth Games at bantamweight. Results were:

• {{flagicon|NRU}} Matthew Martin: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|IND}} Shiva Thapa: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|UGA}} Bashir Nassir: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|WAL}} Sean McGoldrick: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Qais Ashfaq: Won (3:0)

Conlan won Gold in the European Championships at bantamweight. Results were:

• {{flagicon|FRA}} Anthony Bret: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Frederik Lundgaard Jensen: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|ITA}} Francesco Maietta: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|GBR}} Qais Ashfaq: Won (3:0)

Conlan won Gold in the World Championships at bantamweight. Results were:

• {{flagicon|BRA}} Robenílson Vieira: Won (2:1)
• {{flagicon|AZE}} Tayfur Aliyev: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|BLR}} Dzmitry Asanau: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Murodjon Akhmadaliev: Won (3:0)

Conlan lost at the quarter-finals stage in the 2016 Summer Olympics at bantamweight. Results were:

• {{flagicon|ARM}} Aram Avagyan: Won (3:0)
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Vladimir Nikitin: Lost (1:2)

Following the 2016 Olympics and his disillusionment with amateur boxing, Conlan reaffirmed his intentions of turning professional.{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/michael-conlan-pro-2962694-Sep2016/|title='I'm done with amateur boxing' – Michael Conlan confirms he's going pro|date=3 September 2016|work=The42}} Despite interest from several big promotions and rumours of a deal being struck with Mayweather Promotions,{{cite web|url=http://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.302/82367/0/|title=Is Michael Conlan on the verge of signing a professional deal with Mayweather Promotions?|date=16 September 2016|work=Newstalk}} it was Top Rank who secured Conlan's signature.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/utv/update/2016-09-19/michael-conlan-turns-pro-with-top-rank-boxing/|title=Michael Conlan turns pro with Top Rank Boxing|date=19 September 2016|publisher=ITV}} On 23 September, Bob Arum confirmed that Conlan would be making his professional debut at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, on St. Patrick's Day.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingnewsandviews.com/2016/09/24/michael-conlan-professional/|title=Michael Conlan professional debut confirmed for St. Patrick's Day at MSG|date=24 September 2016|work=Boxing News and Views}}

On 17 March 2017, Conlan won his first fight as a professional boxer, beating Tim Ibarra by a third round technical knockout (TKO) at the theatre at Madison Square Garden.{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/michael-conlan-professional-3294217-Mar2017/ |title='That was beautiful work': McGregor ringside as Michael Conlan delivers first professional win|date=17 March 2017|work=The 42|access-date=22 March 2017}}{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2017/0318/860689-conlan-begins-pro-career-with-third-round-stoppage/|title=Michael Conlan begins pro career with third-round stoppage win|date=17 March 2017|work=RTÉ Sport|access-date=22 March 2017}}

On 3 August 2019, he fought Diego Alberto Ruiz. In front of a packed crowd in his hometown Belfast, Conlan continued his unbeaten streak in the pros and stopped his opponent in nine rounds.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=3 August 2019|title=Michael Conlan Drops, Stops Diego Alberto Ruiz in Belfast|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/michael-conlan-drops-stops-diego-alberto-ruiz-results--141434|access-date=2021-01-10|website=BoxingScene.com|language=en-us}}

On 14 December, Conlan faced Vladimir Nikitin. It was a much anticipated bout, since Nikitin beat Conlan twice in the amateurs, including once at the Rio Olympics in 2016.{{Cite news|title=Conlan earns unanimous win over Nikitin|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/50799263|access-date=2021-01-10}} Conlan won comfortably on all three scorecards, 100–90, 99-91 and 98–92.{{Cite web|title=Conlan vs Nikitin - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets|url=https://box.live/fights/conlan-vs-nikitin/|access-date=2021-01-10|website=Box.Live|language=en}}

In his next fight, Conlan squared off against Sofiane Takoucht. Conlan started the fight fast, and was dominant throughout most of the fight, assaulting Takoucht with numerous body shots. Some of Conlan's body shots were landing below the belt, for which he was deducted a point on two occasions. In the tenth round, Conlan was just too much for the Frenchman, and the referee stopped the fight, awarding Conlan the tenth-round TKO win.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-15|title=Michael Conlan dominates and stops Sofiane Takoucht in 10|url=https://www.ringtv.com/607824-michael-conlan-dominates-and-stops-sofiane-takoucht-in-10/|access-date=2021-01-10|website=The Ring}}

Conlan won his first bout at the super-bantam weight level on 30 April 2021, beating Ionut Baluta by a majority decision.{{cite web |title=Michael Conlan Overcomes Ionut Baluta With Majority Decision in Tough Fight |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/michael-conlan-overcomes-ionut-baluta-with-majority-decision-results--157302 |website=Boxing Scene |date=30 April 2021 |access-date=30 April 2021}}

Conlan returned to featherweight in his next bout, as he faced T. J. Doheny for the vacant WBA interim featherweight title on 6 August 2021.{{cite web |title=Michael Conlan out to 'put manners' on 'arrogant' TJ Doheny in interim WBA featherweight title bout |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/58073029 |website=bbc.com |access-date=20 January 2022 |date=5 August 2021}} Conlan won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 116–111 in his favor, while the third judge scored it 119–108 for him. He scored the sole knockdown of the bout in the fifth round, dropping Doheny with a strike to the body.{{cite web |last1=Parkinson |first1=Nick |title=Michael Conlan increases shot at world title after unanimous points victory over TJ Doheny |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/31975488/michael-conlan-increases-shot-world-title-unanimous-points-victory-tj-doheny |website=espn.com |access-date=20 January 2022 |date=7 August 2021}}

Conlan remained in the featherweight level for his fight against Leigh Wood, the current WBA (Regular) featherweight title holder, on 12 March 2022. He started the fight brightly, scoring a knockdown on Wood in the first round and he continued to dominate until the later rounds when Wood came back into the contest more. Conlan went down in the 11th round, it was scored as a knockdown despite protests from Conlan's corner. In the 12th, with Conlan just being ahead on all the scorecards,{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=BoxingScene |title=Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan - Official Scorecards |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/leigh-wood-vs-michael-conlan-official-scorecards--164739 |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=BoxingScene.com |date=13 March 2022 |language=en-us}} Wood improved again and 1:25 into the round he knocked out Conlan, with Conlan falling through the ropes and reportedly being rendered unconscious for "a minute or two".{{Cite news |title='What happened? Did I lose?' - Conlan |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/60701782 |access-date=2022-03-13}}{{Cite news |title=Wood knocks out Conlan to retain title |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/60724637 |access-date=2022-03-13}} He was quickly taken to hospital, Conlan since has said he is "all good" and his scans were "clear".{{Cite news |title=Conlan 'all good' after knockout defeat in world title fight |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/boxing/60726696 |access-date=2022-03-13}}

On August 6, 2022, Conlan made his ring return at SSE Arena Belfast in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He faced three-time world title challenger Miguel Marriaga of Colombia. He won the fight by unanimous decision, scoring three knockdowns in Round 7, 8 and 9.{{cite news |last1=Christ |first1=Scott |title=Highlights and results: Michael Conlan returns with wide decision win in Belfast |url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2022/8/6/23295056/conlan-vs-marriaga-full-fight-video-highlights-results-decision-scores-boxing-news-2022 |access-date=7 August 2022 |work=Bad Left Hook |date=6 August 2022 |language=en}}

In the men's bantamweight quarterfinal stage of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Conlan was eliminated by a controversial call, in which Russia's Vladimir Nikitin was awarded the victory.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/michael-conlan-aiba-are-cheats-f-king-cheats-as-simple-as-that-he1.2758104|title=Michael Conlan: 'AIBA are cheats, fucking cheats, as simple as that'|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=16 August 2016}} Conlan reacted by raising his middle finger at the judges and delivering a strongly-worded live television interview to RTÉ, accusing officials in amateur boxing of corruption.{{cite news |last=Happe |first=Liam |date=16 August 2016 |title=Rio 2016: Michael Conlan launches incredible profanity-laced rant at 'corrupt' Olympic chiefs |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/michael-conlan-launches-incredible-profanity-laced-rant-at--corrupt--olympic-chiefs-161308430.html |work=Yahoo News |access-date=16 August 2016}}{{cite news |last=Willes |first=Ed |date=16 August 2016 |title=Ed Willes: Irish fighter gives judges the middle finger as corruption allegation engulfs boxing |url=http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/rio-2016/ed-willes-irish-fighter-gives-judges-the-middle-finger-as-corruption-allegation-engulfs-boxing |work=National Post |access-date=16 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/amateur-boxing-stinks-from-the-core-right-to-the-top-conlan-34972004.html|title='Amateur boxing stinks from the core right to the top' – Conlan|date=17 August 2016|work=Irish Independent|access-date=17 August 2016}} That decision was one of a number that had fellow international boxers and commentators questioning the integrity of Olympic boxing and the scoring system used.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160816230455/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/gary-russell-robbed-in-loss-as-problems-with-olympic-boxing-once-again-revealed-191237220.html "Gary Russell 'robbed' in loss as problems with Olympic boxing once again revealed"], 16 August 2016.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37100323 |publisher=BBC Sport | title=Rio Olympics 2016: Boxing judges are 'crazy' over new scoring system |date= 17 August 2016}}

Conlan was found placing bets on boxing events at the 2016 Summer Olympics, violating the IOC rules. Accordingly, he was sanctioned with a severe reprimand by the Disciplinary Commission of the IOC.{{cite web|url=https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Ethics/Decisions/IOC-Ethics-Commission-decision-MichaelConlan-Eng.pdf|title=IOC sanctions three athletes for betting on Olympic competitions in Rio 2016 |publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=28 September 2016}}

In his eleventh professional bout, Conlan arrived in Madison Square Garden with The Wolfe Tones' song Celtic Symphony playing and some of the crowd chanting "Ooh ahh, up the 'Ra".{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/47609828|title=Boxer Conlan criticised after pro-IRA chants|date=2019-03-18|access-date=2019-05-13|language=en-GB}} Some, including Northern Irish former world champion Dave McAuley, called for action from boxing regulatory bodies. The niece of an IRA bombing victim suggested that Conlan had "glorified terrorism" and criticised the boxer by suggesting he was the antithesis of other boxers like Barry McGuigan and Carl Frampton who had always strived to keep a cross-community spirit in boxing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/call-for-boxer-michael-conlan-suspension-over-ring-walk-song-glorifying-terrorism-37932250.html|title=Call for boxer Michael Conlan suspension over ring walk song 'glorifying terrorism'|work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk|access-date=2019-05-13|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} Promoter Barney Eastwood echoed McAuley's sentiment, saying it "should never have been allowed to come about". Politicians and boxing coach John Breen also suggested that Conlan will have lost support because of it.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/boxing/boxing-chiefs-must-take-a-stand-over-ring-walk-songs-after-michael-conlan-controversy-mcauley-37932149.html|title=Boxing chiefs must take a stand over ring walk songs after Michael Conlan controversy: McAuley|work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk|access-date=2019-05-13|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/up-the-ra-chants-at-michael-conlans-new-york-fight-anger-viewers-37925517.html|title='Up the Ra' chants at Michael Conlan's New York fight anger viewers|work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk|access-date=2019-05-13|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} Conlan subsequently apologised for his "misjudgement" in using Celtic Symphony as his ring-walk music.{{cite web |title=Michael Conlan: Belfast fighter apologises over pro-IRA song at New York fight but he did it again with the song Grace|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/48218323 |publisher=BBC |date=10 May 2019}}

{{BoxingRecordSummary

|draws=

|nc=

|ko-wins=10

|ko-losses=3

|dec-wins=9

|dec-losses=

|dq-wins=

|dq-losses=

}}

In 2013, Conlan appeared in Celebrity Apprentice Ireland on TV3.{{cite web|url=http://www.tv3.ie/shows_contestants.php?request=thecelebrityapprentice |title=Judges and Contestants |work=TV3.ie |access-date=25 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927210701/http://www.tv3.ie/shows_contestants.php?request=thecelebrityapprentice |archive-date=27 September 2013 }}

In 2016, Conlan appeared in Road To Rio on RTÉ2.

• European Amateur Championships:
• Boxer of the Tournament: 2015
• RTÉ Sports Awards:
• RTÉ Sports Person of the Year: 2015

{{reflist}}

• {{BoxRec}}
• {{AIBA|michael-conlan-56kg}}
• {{Olympics.com|michael-conlan}}
• {{Olympedia}}
• [http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/athlete-profiles/2012/0626/326604-michael-conlan/ Michael Conlan] at RTÉ Sport
• [https://box.live/boxers/michael-conlan/ Michael Conlan - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings] at [https://Box.Live Box.Live]

{{BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year winners}}

{{RTÉ Sports Person of the Year}}

{{Footer World Amateur Champions Bantamweight}}

{{Footer European Amateur Champions Bantamweight}}

{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Bantamweight}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conlan, Michael}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Male boxers from Northern Ireland

Category:Flyweight boxers

Category:Olympic boxers for Ireland

Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Ireland

Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Category:Boxers at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Category:Boxers at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic medalists in boxing

Category:AIBA World Boxing Championships medalists

Category:Boxers at the 2014 Commonwealth Games

Category:Boxers from Belfast

Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Northern Ireland

Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in boxing

Category:RTÉ Sports Person of the Year winners

Category:Medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games

Category:21st-century sportsmen from Northern Ireland