Confident Conlan is ready to strike gold
AS MICHAEL CONLAN attempts to become the first Irishman ever to claim a World Championship gold medal, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled when asked if he even cares who stands in the opposite corner.
For the benefit of posterity, the 23year-old Belfast bantamweight takes on Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan — the world No 22 and Asian Games silver medallist — but since Conlan is world No 6, the No 3 seed here in Doha and European champion, he is understandably the favourite to win tonight.
The Irish team captain has been in flying form throughout the tournament after wins over Brazilian Robenilson Vieira De Jesus, Azeri Tayfur Aliyev and Dzmitry Asanau of Belarus, but Uzbek Akhmadaliev did manage to beat No 1 seed Kairat Yeraliyev of Kazkhstan in his first fight here.
Conlan insists he doesn’t care who stands in the opposite corner, although his confidence is not a sign of presumptuous arrogance rather than a belief in his own abilities if he boxes to his potential.
‘It’s been the same way since I came onto the team, I’ve never cared about my opponent, I just go out and do what I do,’ said Conlan.
‘If it works it works, if it doesn’t it doesn’t, but I know I’m going to go out there and put on my best performance to win a gold medal.’
Conlan is also taking heart from the fact that fellow Belfast boxer Kurt Walker pushed the world No 22 and Asian Games silver medallist all the way in a close 2-1 split decision loss last February.
The Irish captain has seen bits of his opponent’s fights at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena, but is concentrating more on his own display.
‘I haven’t looked at any opponents but I’ve seen bits of this kid [Akhmadaliev] because he’s been fighting before me [in Doha],’ said Conlan.
‘I’m just going to have to go in there and do what I do and perform.’
Meanwhile, Irish head coach Billy Walsh says Portlaoise middleweight Michael O’Reilly faces his own worldtitle fight when he fights in a thirdplace box-off for a place in Rio.
The 22-year- old takes on Hosam Abdin of Egypt and the winner will be certain to qualify for the Olympics — although even the loser could end up going to the games depending on qualification quota calls.
‘The journey that Michael has been on this year is fantastic, winning the European Games gold medal and beating the world champion here and winning a medal,’ said Walsh.
‘This next fight is a world-title fight for him — he’s got to win this fight to guarantee he has his [Olympic] place.’