Ireland's Olympic hero MICHAEL "MICK" CONLAN and undefeated welterweight contender ALEX "El Cholo" SAUCEDO arrived in New York City! Photos by Mikey Williams.
Conlan, 25, a two-time Olympian, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and a former World Amateur Champion from Belfast, Ireland, will be making his pro debut in the main event of a special St. Patrick's Day card at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Friday, March 17.
Saucedo (23-0, 14 KOs), from Oklahoma City, will be making his Garden debut on the same card. Saucedo, 22, world-rated No. 14 by the WBO, is trained by 2015 BWAA Trainer of the Year Abel Sanchez.
Conlan, 25, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, produced one of the most memorable moments during last summer's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. A loss in the bantamweight quarterfinals to Russia's Vladimir Nikitin was arguably the most controversial of the boxing tournament.
In fact Conlan hurt Nikitin so badly that the Russian forfeited his semifinal fight because he wasn't able to recuperate from the injuries he suffered from the pasting he received from Conlan.
After the decision was announced, Conlan saluted the judges with both middle fingers followed by a series of post-fight interviews ripping the decision and accusing the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which oversees amateur boxing, of corruption. AIBA sent the judges who worked that fight home in the wake of the immediate public outrage.
Conlan further added to his legend by sending a Tweet to Russian president Vladimir Putin, "How much did they charge you bro???" A former amateur standout who was a 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist and 2015 World Amateur Champion -- a first for a male Irish fighter -- Conlan is training in Los Angeles with Manny Robles.
Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Hennessy, Madison Square Garden, remaining tickets to Conlan's pro debut are priced at $200, $150, $100, $75 and $50. They can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com.
