By Terence Dooley
Belfast’s Michael Conlan (8-0, 5 KOs) made a successful return to the city by beating Adielson Dos Santos by decision on Saturday night — his first fight on home soil as a professional — and the 26-year-old enjoyed the occasion so much he is already eying up a possible stadium fight at Casement Park, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
Alternatively, he has admitted that he could end up on a Carl Frampton bill at Windsor Park if his compatriot fights at the venue again next year.
Frampton is due to meet Luke Jackson there on August 18, but that date would be too soon for Conlan to be added to the bill so he will wait and see what happens in 2019.
“I would love a huge fight in Windsor Park in the future, that would be amazing,” he said when speaking to the Irish News.
“Fighting there for a world title, or if Casement Park is up and ready would be amazing. Even the Falls Park, we were approached last year to do the Feile.”
“I’m from the Falls Road so for me to fight in the Falls Park would be unreal. It didn’t happen but in the future I would look forward to doing it – next year would be great at the Feile. “But if Carl has another big bill at Windsor Park next year I would love to be on it.”
Conlan had boxed over in America since turning pro with a third-round stoppage over Tim Ibarra last year at Madison Square Garden, but now wants to squeeze in as many outings as possible in Belfast in order to sample the unique atmosphere of fight nights in Northern Ireland. “The crowd singing along at the start was out of this world,” he said.
“No matter what, if I die or retire in the morning I could never beat that. That was special, Belfast is special and I can’t wait to get back because it is the best place in the world. I soaked it up. I have lived all over the world but this city is great and now that I have boxed here I don’t want to box anywhere else.”
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