Conlan’s delighted with move to new coach Booth

MICHAEL Conlan has decided to link up with London trainer Adam Booth as he seeks to move up the world ladder in 2018.

Conlan had been based out in Los Angeles with top coach Manny Robles but now feels he needs a change as well as being based closer to home.

The Belfast man, who returns to the ring on March 17 at Madison Square Garden, will now be in the same gym as Northern Ireland’s WBA/IBF World champion Ryan Burnett — a man he competed against as an amateur.

“I’m delighted with the move. Adam Booth is a great coach and it’s the right move at the right time for me,” said Conlan (above). “It’s one I took a lot of time to think about, but I knew if I was moving closer to home that I wanted to link up with Adam.

“I’d like to thank Manny for all his help. I really enjoyed the time we spent working together and I learned a lot, it was a great experience, but I just felt I needed a change and it was important to be training closer to home for my family.

“We have another baby on the way and I think this will make life a lot easier both personally and professionally.”

Meanwhile, WBA World featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz will defend his title against Abner Mares on June 9 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The winner could well finish the year by taking on former champion Carl Frampton.

The Jackal returns to the ring on April 21 at the SSE Arena against fourweight world champion Nonito Donaire. Victory for Frampton would then set him up for a likely clash against he winner of the IBF title fight between Lee Selby and Josh Warrington.

Promoter Frank Warren has promised Frampton a world title shot at Windsor Park in the summer, should he defeat Donaire in what is expected to be announced as a final eliminator for the WBO title, which is held by Mexican Oscar Valdez.