THE MAN FACING Michael Conlan in the two-time Olympian’s professional debut in New York on St Patrick’s Day has been confirmed as American Tim Ibarra [4-4, 1KO].
Top Rank fighter Conlan, 25, who won a bronze medal at London 2012 before being controversially sent packing from Rio de Janeiro last year, has already moved Stateside ahead of the super bantamweight bout.
Conlan is currently training in Manny Robles’ The Rock Gym in California alongside his good friend and former Ireland amateur team-mate Jason Quigley [12-0, 10KOs].
The 2015 amateur world champion will enter his debut pro fight as a heavy favourite against Colorado native Ibarra, whose last contest was a unanimous-decision defeat in December.
Ibarra, 26, has lost three of his last five bouts and will be fighting in New York for the first time in his pro career when he climbs into the ring two months from today.
His bout against Conlan is part of a major Irish double-header in New York on St Patrick’s Day weekend with Katie Taylor [2-0, 1KOs] due to fight for the third time in her fledgling pro career, on the undercard of the highly-anticipated showdown between Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs on 18 March.
The official announcement for Conlan’s fight, which will be shown live on BT Sport, is scheduled for tomorrow in New York.
*hat/tip to irish-boxing.com
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