Michael Conlan knows what it is to be bitten by boxing. Robbed of Rio 2016 gold against Vladimir Nikitin, the Belfast man discovered early that amateur boxing could be unforgiving; in the pro ranks, he says, the sharks circle even closer. Conlan makes his Dublin debut on 5 September against Jack Bateson at the 3Arena and, ahead of the fight, reflected on the sport’s darker side.
Conlan argues that professionals have far more to lose than amateurs. A bad decision, a failed drug test, or simply the wrong promotional alliance can slash purses and derail careers overnight. “Your livelihood is at stake,” he told BoxingScene. “You spend so much more money in the pros—sparring, hotels, travel. One loss and everything changes.”
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The 32-year-old insists he does not regret staying amateur for a second Olympic cycle. The now-infamous raised middle finger to the Rio judges, beamed worldwide, turned him into a box-office attraction. “That made me more money than a gold medal ever would,” Conlan said. “Gold-medal winners were fighting on my undercards.”
The gesture remains a hallmark of his brand - fans still ask for the pose in photos - but Conlan resists turning it into a marketing gimmick. *“I don’t want that to be the only thing,” *he said, even while admitting that a sea of foam middle fingers at the 3Arena would be “funny.”
As AIBA rebrands to IBA and eyes a move into professional boxing, Conlan will watch closely. For now, he focuses on Bateson, keen to begin a new chapter in the city where he won countless amateur bouts. The middle finger may have launched his profile, but Conlan is determined that his legacy be written in fists, not gestures.
Image Credit: Sky Sports