An “inspired” Michael Conlan believes he is set to return to the ring in Belfast on March 20 against Kevin Walsh.
Conlan, one of Ireland’s great amateurs, is 20-3 (10 KOs), and training under Grant Smith in Sheffield.
Walsh, 33, is 19-0 (10 KOs) and from Brockton, Massachusetts. He was active in 2025, winning four times, including a 10-round split decision over Tramaine Williams in May. He’s boxed a couple of eight-rounders since.
“It looks like Belfast, March 20 against the American Kevin Walsh,” said Conlan.
The Irishman is still on his mission to claim a world title. He’s spent weeks in camp already since his last fight, a fourth-round victory over Jack Bateson, and he’s recently seen current team-mate Dalton Smith win a world title and he saw former stable-mate Josh Kelly win a world crown two weeks later.
“I’m delighted for them. Both of them,” Conlan told BoxingScene. “I was inspired by both of them, if I’m going to be honest. It was two inspirational performances. Dalton’s, the way he went about business in that fight, was crazy. I was properly inspired by it. With Josh, I was just very, very happy for him because I know how much he’s put into it, and I’m very happy for [trainer] Adam [Booth] because I know how much Adam has beat the drum about Josh. “And if he didn’t do what Adam had always said he was going to do, he would probably feel some sort of way. And he went and done it. So fair play to him. I’m really, really happy for him.”
Conlan’s camp life is tedious. Living about 250 miles away from his family, he plays Call of Duty, runs and trains.
Running has become an important part of his life in recent years.
“I run every day,” said the 34-year-old.
“Running’s part of my training. It’s something I really enjoy. I try to change it [the route] up. I probably run around between sometimes eight miles, sometimes four, sometimes five. I mix it up and I try to make different routes. That’s the only way I know different places in Sheffield is where I run.”
With the recent bad weather, Conlan hasn’t even been able to get a round of golf in, which is one of his favored past-times.
“Playing Call of Duty 24-7, that's the only thing that gets me through training camps,” he smiles.
He has also done his homework on Walsh, and he still believes he will fulfill his destiny and follow Dalton Smith and Josh Kelly in becoming a world champion.
“A hundred percent. I have full belief in it, full confidence in my ability to do it,” he said. “Especially now, being up here with Grant, it’s been really good. I’m really, really enjoying it and I feel now is my time.”
Training aside, though, it’s video games and running.
“People look at a boxer’s lifestyle and think it’s very glamorous, but it’s far from it,” he said. “It’s peaceful, yes. You know, I don’t have my kids running about the place and having to go to the shop or do a bit of shopping or anything like that, this is where I'm just able to focus on my job, which is boxing.”
Conlan is unsure whether his fight will be with Wasserman Boxing or the new MF Pro start up, but said he was working with Kalle and Nisse Sauerland still.
