BoxRec

Press Release

The fighting pride of West Belfast, Michael “Mick” Conlan, is primed for a summer homecoming for the ages. Conlan, the WBO No. 1 junior featherweight contender, will defend his WBO Intercontinental title against former world champion TJ Doheny in a 10-round showdown Friday, Aug. 6 at Falls Park in Belfast as part of the Féile an Phobail festival.

Promoted by Conlan Boxing, Conlan-Doheny and undercard fights will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ starting at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.

“This is a big test for Mick, as Doheny is a formidable foe who won’t be intimidated fighting in front of the partisan Belfast crowd,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “He wanted a Belfast fight, and I am thrilled that his loyal fans will get to see him in person once again.”

Added Jamie Conlan, CEO of Conlan Boxing: “Michael and I are honored and excited to bring live boxing back to Belfast. Everyone has been working hard behind the scenes to make this event possible during these crazy times and now there is light at the end of the tunnel. Both Michael and TJ have Irish pride on the line, but they see each other as the perfect dance partner to reach the world title level. It has all the ingredients for a fantastic fight."

Conlan (15-0, 8 KOs) became an Irish sporting folk hero after an amateur career that saw him win a 2015 World Championships gold medal and qualify for a pair of Olympic Games. He captured a bronze medal in London in 2012 and turned pro after a well-publicized robbery — and a double middle finger salute toward the judges — at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He’s fought in Belfast twice as a pro, selling out the SSE Arena Belfast in 2018 and packing nearly 10,000 fans into Falls Park in August 2019. He last fought in April and made his junior featherweight debut with a 12-round majority decision over noted spoiler Ionut Baluta.

Conlan said, “I’m excited to be back fighting in my city. It was special in 2019, but I believe this year it will be even better as we haven’t had live events due to the pandemic. On Aug. 6, we will show Belfast is back!

“It will be an honor to share the ring with TJ. I have a lot of respect for him and his achievements. I believe it’s my toughest fight to date, and with that, I will make my biggest statement in my quest to become a world champion.”

Doheny (22-2, 16 KOs), from Portlaoise, Ireland, reached the pinnacle of the sport when he upset Ryosuke Iwasa by unanimous decision in August 2018 to win the IBF junior featherweight world title. He made one defense of the title before losing a hotly contested title unification matchup against Daniel Roman. Following a comeback victory, he was upset via eight-round unanimous decision against Baluta, who went on to knock out former Irish amateur star Davey Oliver Joyce before fighting Conlan.

Doheny said, “This will be my first time fighting on Irish soil, and I can’t think of a better homecoming. It doesn’t get much bigger than this for an all-Irish clash, and the fans are in for a real treat. This is the kind of fight that I have been craving since my close majority decision loss to Daniel Roman. Top opposition is what motivates me and helps me raise my game. I cannot wait for this.”

The last Féile an Phobail festival Conlan was supposed to fight that Olympian, but he got injured.

Was still a decent event. Good turnout as well.

Will be on Sky Sports for us. Prime time!!

Good fight. Don't know who wins. Done by lost in his last against the Romanian but that was a poor showing from him. Should be good

Conlan wins again while everyone continues to say they don't rate him.

emallini wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 18:19 Conlan wins again while everyone continues to say they don't rate him.

Did you rate him in his last fight ??

he's not beating the type of opposition that really forces ppl to rate him

TJ’s last fight was an 8 round UD Loss to the same guy Conlan just beat my MD.

high tower 1 wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 18:26

emallini wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 18:19 Conlan wins again while everyone continues to say they don't rate him.

Did you rate him in his last fight ??

Yeah of course I rate him full stop. Quality little boxer.

emallini wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 19:31

high tower 1 wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 18:26

emallini wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 18:19 Conlan wins again while everyone continues to say they don't rate him.

Did you rate him in his last fight ??

Yeah of course I rate him full stop. Quality little boxer.

Just needs tougher tests..

Should be a decent fight and a good night out in general.

Stevieaber wrote: ↑01 Jul 2021, 07:31 Should be a decent fight and a good night out in general.

Tyrone McKenna versus 'Kazakh Kid' Tuararov confirmed for Feile an Phobail

TYRONE McKenna's postponed rumble with Kazakhstan's Zhankosh Tuararov for the WBO Inter-Continental Light-welterweight title is one of the highlights of a stacked undercard for the Feile an Phobail spectacular at Belfast's Falls Park on August 6.

Headlined by Michael Conlan's showdown with former IBF world super-bantamweight king TJ Doheny, the bill will also include Scotland's Lee McGregor (10-0) versus 32-0 Vincent Legrand for the EBU bantamweight belt.

More undercard fights will be confirmed early next week and Padraig McCrory, Sean McComb, Callum Bradley are all expected to be part of the show. It is understood that British super-featherweight champion Anto Cacace could also feature.

McKenna-Tuararov was originally scheduled for the undercard of Carl Frampton's ill-fated WBO super-featherweight shown with Jamel Herring in Dubai in April but ‘Da Kazakh Kid' (24-0 pulled out of the fight at the eleventh hour.

“He's an undefeated fighter and a tough fighter but when I beat him I'm WBO Inter-Continental champion, in the top five with the WBO and in a position to call out for a world title shot. It's a massive opportunity,” said ‘Mighty Celt' McKenna

“He's a tough fighter, he's strong, but I don't think he'll be able to handle the pace I set, I don't think he'll be able to handle my style – I'm 6'1”, I'm a southpaw – and I don't think he's been in the calibre of fights I've had. He hasn't got my experience so he's in for a bit of a shock if he goes toe-to-toe with me.

“I'm always good with orthodox fighters. I always find southpaws tricky but when it comes to orthodox I always think my defence is a lot better so I'm not worried about his right hand because they're the kind of shots that I do catch.

“He is good, he's smart and he's slick so I don't think it's an easy night but I think I've beat better, I think I've been in with a lot better and I don't think he's been in with my calibre and that's going to be a big factor on the night.”

Quite like the look of this card so far, good opportunity for TJ Doheny in the main event and McGregor has been great to watch in his fairly short career to date. McKenna pretty much always ends up embroiled in a tear up too hopefully a big crowd can attend.

NoScoutingReports wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 06:10 Quite like the look of this card so far, good opportunity for TJ Doheny in the main event and McGregor has been great to watch in his fairly short career to date. McKenna pretty much always ends up embroiled in a tear up too hopefully a big crowd can attend.

Legrand is a former Flyweight..

EBU Champion

i know graham houston picked tyrone over the 24-0 kzahk when they were originally scheduled (for dubai was it), in case any of you wanna get on some betting action , ty in oireland now too

I think it's a really good competitive fight, and gives Michael the chance to fight for a belt in the states if he wins no doubt.

Surprised given it is a Top Rank event that Sky Sports haven't announced yet.

Also note that the Promoters are Conlan Boxing. Lot of things going on in the boxing world!

garethhop wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 06:22 I think it's a really good competitive fight, and gives Michael the chance to fight for a belt in the states if he wins no doubt.

Surprised given it is a Top Rank event that Sky Sports haven't announced yet.

Also note that the Promoters are Conlan Boxing. Lot of things going on in the boxing world!

Arum also on the press release..

Usually BT were picking up Conlan's fights, like the last one at Falls Park,

But now with TR's Sky link.

Poster does have the TR - ESPN+ logo

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 06:39

garethhop wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 06:22 I think it's a really good competitive fight, and gives Michael the chance to fight for a belt in the states if he wins no doubt.

Surprised given it is a Top Rank event that Sky Sports haven't announced yet.

Also note that the Promoters are Conlan Boxing. Lot of things going on in the boxing world!

Arum also on the press release..

Usually BT were picking up Conlan's fights, like the last one at Falls Park,

But now with TR's Sky link.

Poster does have the TR - ESPN+ logo

I could be wrong but I thought Sky were announcing their next steps mid August. If it’s a lock that this will be on Sky then it seems weird not to mention it now.

Good card though. Interesting that Conlan and Cacace will no longer be on BT. Both are fighters that with the right fights could have headlined proper shows - doesn’t leave loads left with FW that can do that.

Got my ticket today, should be a good night

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑01 Jul 2021, 07:44

Stevieaber wrote: ↑01 Jul 2021, 07:31 Should be a decent fight and a good night out in general.

View doesn't look great? Tempted to go, but it's outdoor also, if it rains were are we. Will there be proper bar ? It's pricey

Press Release | James McGivern vs. Sean Duffy Added To Card

Two unbeaten prospects will collide as James McGivern faces Sean Duffy on the Feile an Phobail boxing event next month.

The card takes place at Falls Park in Belfast on Friday 6 August, and is headlined by an all-Irish showdown between Michael Conlan and TJ Doheny.

McGivern (2-0) has won both of his fights in the paid ranks since making his debut in August 2020, picking up victories over Jamie Quinn and Jordan Ellison.

He now squares off with Duffy (4-0, 2 KOs), who has won all four of his professional fights, and was victorious at Falls Park the last time the Feile an Phobail event took place in August 2019.

Two more rising stars that have been confirmed for the bill are Fearghus Quinn (2-0), as he looks to build on his wins over Robbie Chapman and Scott James, and Callum Bradley (4-0), who returns for the first time since February 2020.

Elsewhere on the bill, Lee McGregor defends his European bantamweight title against Vincent Legrand, Tyrone McKenna and Zhankosh Turarov clash for the WBO Intercontiental super-lightweight title, Padraig McCrory meets Sergi Gorokhov, and Sean McComb takes on Craig Woodruff.

duffy looks closer to 50 than 30

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 07:25

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 06:39

garethhop wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 06:22 I think it's a really good competitive fight, and gives Michael the chance to fight for a belt in the states if he wins no doubt.

Surprised given it is a Top Rank event that Sky Sports haven't announced yet.

Also note that the Promoters are Conlan Boxing. Lot of things going on in the boxing world!

Arum also on the press release..

Usually BT were picking up Conlan's fights, like the last one at Falls Park,

But now with TR's Sky link.

Poster does have the TR - ESPN+ logo

I could be wrong but I thought Sky were announcing their next steps mid August. If it’s a lock that this will be on Sky then it seems weird not to mention it now.

Good card though. Interesting that Conlan and Cacace will no longer be on BT. Both are fighters that with the right fights could have headlined proper shows - doesn’t leave loads left with FW that can do that.

Why where's Cacace gone?

llwynog wrote: ↑12 Jul 2021, 14:18

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 07:25

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 06:39

Arum also on the press release..

Usually BT were picking up Conlan's fights, like the last one at Falls Park,

But now with TR's Sky link.

Poster does have the TR - ESPN+ logo

I could be wrong but I thought Sky were announcing their next steps mid August. If it’s a lock that this will be on Sky then it seems weird not to mention it now.

Good card though. Interesting that Conlan and Cacace will no longer be on BT. Both are fighters that with the right fights could have headlined proper shows - doesn’t leave loads left with FW that can do that.

Why where's Cacace gone?

No idea. Some good fights available for him too. Him and Archie Sharp would be good but Archie’s too busy targeting Herring and Stevenson.

llwynog wrote: ↑12 Jul 2021, 14:18

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 07:25

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jul 2021, 06:39

Arum also on the press release..

Usually BT were picking up Conlan's fights, like the last one at Falls Park,

But now with TR's Sky link.

Poster does have the TR - ESPN+ logo

I could be wrong but I thought Sky were announcing their next steps mid August. If it’s a lock that this will be on Sky then it seems weird not to mention it now.

Good card though. Interesting that Conlan and Cacace will no longer be on BT. Both are fighters that with the right fights could have headlined proper shows - doesn’t leave loads left with FW that can do that.

Why where's Cacace gone?

Sure Cacace signed deal with FW previously.