Michael Conlan is reportedly scheduled to compete again on September 5th. The fighter from Belfast appears determined to pursue his long-held ambition of becoming a world champion.
The two-time Olympian successfully returned to winning form last March, securing a clear victory by outpointing Asad Asif Khan over eight rounds. Khan was described as a durable, though not exceptional, opponent.
Prior to that win, `Irish Mick Conlan` had suffered back-to-back losses by knockout to Luis Alberto Lopez and Jordan Gill. These defeats had cast significant doubt on the future direction of his career.
Now, however, it seems the 33-year-old, who has frequently spoken about his desire for world titles in recent years, remains keen to make another attempt at challenging for major honours in the near future.
According to a report from BBC Sport, Conlan (19-3, 9 KOs) is preparing for a bout against Jack Bateson. Bateson is widely considered to be several levels below the elite world standard. The fight is expected to take place at a venue in Dublin, Ireland.
Although a fight against Bateson may not serve as a significant career-boosting opportunity for Conlan, whose ultimate championship aspirations are still uncertain, Bateson has nevertheless established himself as a skilled boxer on the domestic scene.
Bateson`s most recent outing in December was disappointing, resulting in a two-round technical draw against Danny Quartermaine. The fight was stopped after both boxers sustained cuts following an accidental head clash.
Bateson`s sole career loss occurred in 2022 against super-bantamweight contender Shabaz Masoud. Since that defeat, the Yorkshireman has competed in weight classes ranging from 126lbs to 130lbs.
Regardless of the opponent (Conlan was previously expected to face European champion Cristobal Lorente), Conlan is clearly aiming to quickly re-enter the discussion for a featherweight world title opportunity.
However, questions linger about whether he still possesses the necessary ability at the highest level. Truthfully, consecutive victories against opponents like Khan and Bateson would not provide a truly convincing argument for his world championship readiness.
