By: Sean Crose
“Irish star Michael “Mick” Conlan is poised to perform once again at a featherweight world title,” Top Rated Ads announced in a press release Wednesday. “Less than five months since his brave attempt against WBA champion Leigh Wood, it’s time for Conlan to return home for the summer.” Miguel Marriaga will face Conlan on August 6 at Belfast’s SSE Arena during the Feile Festival. The fight is scheduled to take place in 10 innings in the lightweight division.
“I am delighted to be back fighting in my beloved Belfast,” Conlan is quoted as saying. “Miguel is a great fighter, and together we will give fans a night to remember at The SSE Arena. This match will get me back in no time for world titles, and I’m enjoying the task at hand. ” Marriaga, the press release says “is a three-time world title challenger, losing to Nicholas Walters and Oscar Valdez in featherweight and Vasiliy Lomachenko in an August 2017 bid for the WBO lightweight crown .”
Of course, the Conlan is one of the better known fighters in the world. Since putting his finger on Olympic scoring during his amateur days, the famous Irishman has garnered much fan support and interest in the five years he’s played professionally. His final game saw Conlan fight for the WBA featherweight title against Leigh Wood in March. It was an intense fight, one that saw Wood come out victorious after Conlan was literally knocked out of the ring in the twelfth and final round. Now, just a few months later, Conlan is eager to return.
“Michael’s road back started with Miguel Marriaga,” said Honcho James Conlan of Boxing Conlan. “Miguel is a dangerous man and one of the biggest boxers of the tournament, who mixed it at the top. August 6 will be another electric night in the city, which is becoming an annual Irish boxing tradition with Michael’s fight night at the Féile festival. The goal remains the same. Michael Conlan will be Ireland’s next world champion.”
Conlan promoter Bob Arum has made it clear that he is eager to get his boxer ready for another world championship shot. “There is no place like home, and we are delighted that Mick will have another opportunity to perform in front of the huge Belfast fans,” he said. “With a win over a solid opponent like Marriaga, he will once again be fighting for the featherweight world title in no time.”
