Boxing: Michael Conlan (14-0) v Giovanni Baluta (tonight, York Hall, live on BT Sport from 7pm)
MICHAEL Conlan says he has “no excuses” tonight in the fight that could propel him to a world title shot in Belfast last this year.
On the undercard of the Sunny Edwards versus Moruti Mthalane IBF flyweight title headline act, Conlan takes on Romanian Ionut Baluta over 10 rounds at London’s York Hall and Belfast’s former amateur world champion has, as always, questions to answer. Tonight is his first outing at super-bantamweight, his return from a serious ankle injury and his first appearance since last August when he stopped former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht.
He’s up against an ambitious opponent in Baluta who is chasing a hat-trick of wins over Irish fighters after he grabbed the headlines with wins over TJ Doheny and then, much more spectacularly, David Oliver Joyce.
Looking impressively ripped, Conlan weighed in yesterday at 121.9lbs.
“It was the best I ever made weight,” he said and he puts that down to a year of “living like a saint”.
“Now we’re here I’m looking forward to showing what I can do,” he added.
“I’ve been very disciplined. Over the last year I’ve been on it, I haven’t let myself get out of shape and I’ve stayed close to the weight. My performances in sparring were standing out so I’m excited for what is to come against Baluta.
“I feel really big, really strong and this is probably the best I’ve ever made weight, the most energy I’ve ever had making weight and it’s because I lived the life of a professional over the past year. I’ve been living the life of a professional since I turned pro but I’ve taken it down to every single tiny detail since the first lockdown and now we’re here.”
Conlan insists that the ligament damage his suffered after injuring his ankle is completely behind him. The injury scuppered a fight against former WBO world super-bantamweight champion Isaac Dogboe on December 5 but Conlan says it will not restrict his movement at all tonight. And neither will his eight months out of action.
“The ankle was a freak accident,” he said.
“I wouldn’t worry about the ankle, it’s all good, I’m all good and you will see that in the ring. Me being out since August is another dead duck. The last time I was out before that fight (against Takoucht) was December the year before (versus Vladimir Nikitin) so there’s not much difference. I’m not bothered, this is the fight that I wanted and I’ve been asking for and I want to go in there and put on a great performance. I have no excuses here and I’m ready.”
The old saying in boxing was ‘20 to learn and 20 to earn’. Tonight is Conlan’s 15th professional fight tonight and it’s easy to forget that (according to the old maxim) he’s still in the learning stage.
Up to now the Adam Booth-trained fighter’s tactical and technical excellence has meant he has been able to bamboozle his opponents and, while the likes of Jason Cunningham have had a real go at him, most have retreated behind a defensive screen after being out-worked and hit from all angles. Tonight Conlan intends to step on the gas and stop Baluta who has only three early wins on his record alongside two points’ defeats.
The Romanian is not regarded as a dangerous puncher but he lets his hands go and his performance against odds-on favourite Joyce (a third round stoppage) proves he cannot be taken for granted. Conlan, who wants a stoppage win and should get it in the second half of the fight, is well aware of that.
“I know he’s someone that you can’t overlook,” said Conlan.
“The last two guys (Doheny and Joyce) didn’t think he was as good as what he was. I’m not thinking like that, I’ve seen two mistakes happen and now it’s my turn and I would be a fool to go in there thinking it’s a walk in the park.
“I know what I have to do and I know I’ll knock the guy out but I know it won’t be easy.”
