Michael Conlan has signed a long-term promotional deal with Wasserman Boxing

[Ruthless-RKO]

Michael Conlan has signed a long-term promotional deal with Wasserman Boxing

Michael Conlan is still on the hunt for world title success in boxing and he'll have more eyes on him than ever during his final pursuit.

The Belfast-born slugger has signed a promotional deal with Kalle Sauerland's Wasserman, with Conlan's fights set to be shown on Channel 5 in the UK.

Exposure-wise, the move is a big one for Conlan (18-3, 9 KOs), who will hope to reap the benefits from terrestrial TV that Harlem Eubank (20-0, 8 KOs) has during his career with Wasserman so far.

There were calls for Conlan, who for the majority of his career has been promoted by Top Rank, to retire following his devastating knockout defeat to Jordan Gill (28-3-1, 9 KOs) in December 2023, but at 33 years old, he's made it clear that the dream is still to chase world titles.

“I turned professional in 2017 with a clear goal – to become world champion," he said.

“I still firmly believe I have the ability to get to the very top, and I did not want to retire and, 10 or 15 years down the line, be thinking ‘what if?’.

“And for this defining period in my career, it was vital to partner with the right promoter and I am thrilled to team up with Kalle, Nisse and the whole team at Wasserman Boxing. Very soon, I’ll be able to share news of my comeback fight. Stay tuned.”

Sauerland said: “Michael Conlan is a true icon of Irish boxing, and we are honoured he has decided to join us at Wasserman Boxing. Michael has already enjoyed a quite sensational career and is a hero to the people in his homeland, but he isn’t done yet.

“He wants to cement his legacy by capturing the world title, and his determination to achieve that is infectious. Nisse and I cannot wait to set out on this journey with Michael, because it promises to be extra-special.”

In his previous two title gold attempts, Conlan was brutally knocked out by Leigh Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) in The Ring's Fight of the Year for 2022, with the finish also securing Knockout of the Year honours.

That battle was for Wood's WBA 'Regular' Featherweight title, but the Nottingham man was upgraded to 'Super' champion status soon after that bout.

Conlan then challenged hard-hitting Mexican Luis Alberto Lopez (30-3, 17 KOs) for his IBF 126 pound title but came unstuck in the middle rounds, losing by TKO in the fifth in their May 2023 clash.

Conlan will also mark this new chapter in his career with a new training team, after linking up with Sheffield's Grant Smith.

Smith currently trains his son, Matchroom starlet Dalton Smith (16-0, 12 KOs), who challenges for a European title this weekend against Walid Ouizza, as well as former undisputed Women's 140-pound champion Chantelle Cameron (20-1, 8 KOs).

Smith also has prospect Junaid Bostan (10-0, 8 KOs) under his wing and he formerly coached former IBF Flyweight champion Sunny Edwards.

Conlan previously trained under the likes of Manny Robles, Adam Booth and Pedro Diaz.

As an amateur, Conlan enjoyed plenty of success, securing a London 2012 Olympic Bronze medal, and Gold medals at the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Perhaps the most infamous moment of his career in the unpaid ranks, however, came at the Rio Olympics in 2016, where Conlan was controversially beaten at the quarter-final stage by Russia's Vladimir Nikitin.

Conlan fumed at the decision and raised his middle finger at the judges in the aftermath, accusing officials of corruption in an interview on live TV.

As a pro, Conlan gained revenge on Nikitin by beating him on points on the undercard of Terence Crawford-Egidijus Kavaliauskas at Madison Square Garden in 2019.

Conlan also holds notable victories over Ionut Baluta, TJ Doheny and Miguel Marriaga.

[cormack]

Long term ....

it will expire when he next gets sparked and retires again

[Ruthless-RKO]

Michael Conlan will return vs Asad Asif Khan on March 7th

[rhino222]

Sadly Conlan is a busted flush, he has all the skills in the world but he cant hold a shot anymore. Hang em up Mike and stay healthy.

[coneye]

Sadly Conlan is a busted flush, he has all the skills in the world but he cant hold a shot anymore. Hang em up Mike and stay healthy.

Fighters are just that fighters , and all too often don't know or can't bring themselves to say , I Give up , and unfortunatly theres always people looking to squeeze that last dollar out of them .

[SeanBrennan]

That deal will make my first marriage look long term

[THEBUTCH]

"Long term deal" sounds very optimistic !

[SeanBrennan]

Anyone know what the Sauerlands are like to deal with? I know Eubank Jr is not a fan but he does say everyone is rubbish (not saying he is right or wring). Groves was with them a long time and did work with them after he retired so there are people who speak highly of them, and even Eddie says they are good to work with. I know it's their Pa who started the boxing business, just wondered if anyone had any insight on them in terms of their ethics to work with? Also were they educated in England? They sound English despite not being so. Kalle could pass for cockney but I've heard him sounding posh English too, Might be Sunny Edwardsitis but it intrigued me.

[SeanBrennan]

"Long term deal" sounds very optimistic !

Indeed especially when he has been out of the ring 14 months. He must love boxing as he made good money I think with being with Top Rank - he has said as much anyway and definitely did well in the Kinahan days. I think Conlan boxing was essentially an offshoot from MTK, just one that survived unlike Probellum.

[THEBUTCH]

Conlan just doesn't seem to be able to get the win when he's pitted against world class opposition. He's competitive, but comes up short.

[Manchester Hitman]

This is concerning. I hope he’s not matched too tough.

[margaret thatcher]

wasserman lol

[TheLeprechaun]

He needs to retire before he gets hurt.

[johninmanchester]

4th paragraph of that press release is bizarre. Writing your own fighter up as having suffered a "devastating knockout" instead of "came up short" or even just "unsuccessful".

[Ruthless-RKO]

finally got a fight