MICHAEL Conlan says he would get back in training immediately if he was offered a shot at the world title he craves.
After a dominant, career-best performance on Saturday night climaxed in a 10th round stoppage win over former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht, Conlan intends to drop from featherweight to super-bantamweight and the first title in his sights is the WBO belt held by American Angelo Leo.
Leo won the vacant title on August 1 and now Conlan (ranked three with the WBO) is slotted in to challenge the winner of his first defence against Steve Fulton. But the west Belfast fighter (now 14-0) says he would take on Leo next month if he could.
“I think Fulton should beat Leo but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the other way round,” said Conlan, who provided chief support to the equally impressive Carl Frampton who made short work of Scotland's Darren Traynor.
“I’m not sold on either of them, they’re both good fighters but I’m very, very confident that I would beat both of them.
“There is no real timeframe but the sooner it happens the better for me. They should box this year and then I think it’s a maximum of 120 days after that that the winner has to fight me. If they don’t fight, I would jump in and fight Leo right now.
“I would fight him in November if it was possible – I’d fight him next month if I was asked. It would be no problem and I would happily go straight back into training camp if I was promised a shot next month, I would make 122bs next month.
“That won’t be the case I don’t think but I’m ready for it now. I’m in the best shape mentally I’ve been in as a pro and I’m very confident now. That victory has brought an extra bit of confidence in terms of what I did, how I did it and why I did the things I was doing in there.
“I’m excited for the next eight months.”
