Michael Conlan

Born on November 19, 1991, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Michael Conlan has emerged as a formidable force in the world of professional boxing. He's a superstar who revitalized the fighting Irish name, reminiscent of the poverty-stricken Irish of the Industrial Revolution, igniting the passion for fighting within the working people of Ireland. In this era, he joins the ranks of the third undisputed champion in boxing history, Katie Taylor, aiming to end the long drought of Irish dominance in boxing, akin to Connor McGregor's attempt against Floyd “Money” Mayweather on August 26, 2017. Like the previously mentioned fighting Irish families, Conlan, along with his father/coach John Conlan and brother Jamie, exudes national pride. However, it's Michael Conlan who stands out as an exceptional talent. He secured a bronze in the 2012 London Games, losing only to the Cuban sensation Robeisy Ramirez, and fell in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Games.

Similar to many Irish fighting sensations, Conlan is bold in his predictions, sometimes seemingly brash to top analysts. However, history shows that the fighting Irish can achieve the seemingly impossible, much like Katie Taylor vs. Cameron Chantelle or McGregor stopping Jose Aldo in the first round. There's a resiliency among the fighting Irish that anything is achievable if humanly possible. Drawing parallels with a man who shares Irish roots, Muhammad Ali, Conlan, like McGregor and Taylor, bounces back from setbacks, as seen when he was knocked out by WBO featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez. This marked the beginning of Michael John Conlan's fighting career, ending the drought of popular male Irish boxers.

Conlan exhibits mastery of fundamental Western European boxing, a trait shared by many Olympic medallists in their native forms within the world of combat sports. Despite not being American, Conlan mirrors aspects of the American Olympic wrestler John Smith. His fighting style is basic, yet his trademarks are remarkably advanced. Conlan adeptly shifts momentum with his footwork while maintaining a traditional boxing stance. He manages his distance skillfully without relying solely on jabs from both his lead and trail legs. What makes Conlan dangerous is his ability to move corner to corner in the ring, jabbing his opponent to one corner and then shifting to another while denying his opponent ample opportunities to inflict damage. His basic defensive maneuvers, such as slip counters, demoralize his competition from bell to bell, showcasing his mastery of Western European offensive and defensive fundamentals, despite his typically low guard with his lead hand.

What sets Conlan apart mentally is his adeptness at level changes within the ring, akin to John Smith. He employs shifts from low to high accompanied by stutter steps, making it challenging for opponents to predict whether his straight one or twos will target the body or head. These nuanced movements force opponents to endure significant damage and crush their fighting spirit. Even when opponents anticipate his tactics, Conlan is prepared to adapt, utilizing unorthodox methods to dominate his adversaries, reminiscent of the “Cowboy” John Smith himself. Much like the cowboy campaigned for gold and redefined fighting in America in the 80s, Conlan's pursuit of success is helping rekindle a fighting renaissance in Ireland.