'All or nothing' - What's on the line for Conlan?
admin_news
At the age of 34, Michael Conlan knows it is win or bust if he is to achieve his dream of becoming a world champion.
He had a decorated amateur career and had been tipped to reach the top of the professional ranks when he made the switch after the 2016 Olympics.
The Belfast boxer has had shots at his dream, against Leigh Wood in 2022 and Luis Alberto Lopez the following year, but fell short on both occasions.
A third professional defeat followed to Jordan Gill in December 2023, but back-to-back wins have him back in the hunt for the elusive world title.
American Kevin Walsh awaits at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Friday, and for Conlan, he knows "every single fight is all or nothing now".
"To be honest, people think it has pressure, but I think it releases so much pressure," Conlan told BBC Sport N.
"You just enjoy the moment now because for a lot of my career, I don't think I probably enjoyed every moment.
"I was too focused on what was next, what was next, what was next.
"But now I'm at a stage where you've got to enjoy it because it could be the last one, every single one."
Conlan says he is "excited" to get back into the ring as he faces "dangerous guy" Walsh, who is unbeaten in 19 professional bouts.
He added he was "very focused and very driven" to get to a world title decider, but he has a "dangerous game in front of me" if he thinks beyond Friday's bout.
"You can't look too far ahead. I've always had a carrot dangled in front of me, whether from the start of my career to now.
"It's always been that way, so I'm used to it by now. I'll just focus on my job and that's to go and put a performance on Friday."
Conlan will fight in Belfast for the eighth time in his career, and just like his shot at the world title, he knows it could be the last.
"I'm back enjoying it. There's a possibility I won't fight in Belfast again.
"That's definitely a possibility, I know that now, and that's why I'm going to make sure I enjoy this one extra."
Walsh, 33, is undefeated in his 19 bouts and Conlan says he is the ideal opponent as "you don't want a walk in the park".
He says he will "have to be switched on" but is confident he will be able to "do my thing".
"The good thing is this guy's undefeated. He's going to be coming forward.
"He's going to have that undefeated confidence and the want to win is going to be very high.
"I'm used to these kind of situations and the pressures of the outside world and everybody talking.
"Nothing else matters. The only thing that matters is you and the guy in front of you and how you do your job."
Knowing he's at the tail end of his career, there has been outside noise that Conlan has missed his chance to win the elusive world title and he past his prime.
When that was put to Conlan, he rebuffed it and said "people can say what they want to say".
"It's water off a duck's back at this stage. I am where I am and I am who I am.
"There's one reason I'm back, and that is to be world champion. If I didn't believe in that enough, I wouldn't be back.
"People can say what they want. It doesn't really matter. Everybody has an opinion, so it is what it is."
