King Of The Ring: An Interview With Olympic Hopeful Michael Conlan

“Other Irish sports come in with the underdog mentality – and Irish boxing was like that for a long time too. But now it’s changed; we’re the guys who come in with the confidence and belief. The footballers this summer were hoping they could do it, and everybody was like, ‘Wow, that’s a good performance’. But going out there with the vision that you’re going to win? Believing is half the battle – if you believe it, it’s a lot easier than going in there hoping.”

There’s a tangible air of conviction about Michael Conlan, putting the finishing touches on his preparations for Rio. Indeed, it seems to permeate throughout the Irish team, from third-time Olympian Paddy Barnes to debutante Joe Ward. It’s strong enough to make a description of ‘medal hopefuls’ dreadfully inadequate. And well it should, as between them, they’ve gathered just about every prize in the sport, not that the casual observer might notice.

“I hate the fact that people miss all the other competitions I go to, and how well I’ve been performing throughout the past four years,” Michael laments. “I love the support we get for the Olympics, but since the last games I’ve won the Europeans, Commonwealth and the Worlds, and not a lot of people saw those tournaments.”
You’d best believe the boxing world did, though. The World Championships, in particular, singled out the Belfast fighter as the man to beat in the 56kg division. Though a certain Ms K. Taylor of Bray had been single-handedly keeping goldmines in business over the past decade, the win saw the 24-year-old become the first male winner from this country – something of which his verbal and physical sparring partner Paddy Barnes is regularly reminded.

“Ah, I’ve got to remind him that I’m the world champion,” Michael grins. The two are notorious for winding each other up, so we’re prepared to hear some zingers, but it’s nothing but kind words today. “It’s great to have Paddy as captain of the team, and being the flag-bearer at the opening ceremony. He’s been a mentor within the squad since 2012, and he’s a great leader. I’m very proud of him.”

Last time, rather than carrying the flag, Paddy was carrying a handwritten sign flaunting his Twitter handle and soliciting sponsorship; shortly after the procession had concluded, the terrible twosome were charging around the Athletes’ Village grabbing selfies with stars of the Games – Usain Bolt, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and the entire US women’s gymnastics team among them. No such fooling about this time, though.
“I think we’re probably on the hit list this time, there’ll be people looking for selfies with us,” Michael laughs. “But it’s going to be very different. I’m not going to take selfies, or to have a mess around; I’m going there to win gold, and that’s my only focus.”
To that end, he contends the experience of four years ago will stand him in good stead. “I’ll know how to handle the pressure this time, and be ready to come into an arena where the noise will be blistering. I don’t remember the first round of my opening fight in London, because I wasn’t expecting what I was walking into. This time I’ll have full expectations, and my full concentration on what I have to do.”He continues: “I was only a boy back then. I’m a lot stronger now, and mentally too. I’ve improved so much since London, and I’ve got the experience too.”

He’s also got the power, ably demonstrated since the sport introduced rules and regulations previously associated with the professional ranks. “I’ve adopted to it quickly, and sitting down into the punches a bit more is what was needed. I feel like I’m punching a lot harder than I ever have.”

Chasing the bantamweight around a ring is like trying to catch smoke with a net; throw the prospect of hurtful counter-punches into the mix, and he’s grown into a legitimate nightmare for opponents – though he’s well aware it’s made him a marked man. “They’re going to be looking at me as the world’s best, and saying that I’m the guy to beat. There’s plenty of talented names in my division, although there’s no point in naming them.” He smirks, suggesting he doesn’t want to give them the pleasure. “I’ve just got to prepare for all of them.”

One face he’d certainly like to see in the other corner is that of Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez – the man who beat him four years ago. “I’d love a rematch,” Michael enthuses. “When he beat me, he had a lot more experience, and he was on top form; this time, it’s all changed. Hopefully it does happen, because I truly believe I’ll get my revenge on him.”
Another name on the list of potential opponents is that of Robenílson de Jesus, which is enough to make plenty of fans sit up and take notice. It’s not the man himself that’s the main cause for concern – though Michael describes him as perhaps the toughest of his opponents at the World Championships, a rangy and awkward fighter – but rather the flag he’ll be fighting under. In a sport known for dodgy judging and hometown decisions, would the prospect of meeting a Brazilian, in front of a partisan crowd, keep Michael up at night?

“Listen, that stuff doesn’t cross my mind. I’m not going to leave it to the judges anyway; I’m gonna make it so clear that they won’t be able to rob me.”
Far more likely to keep Michael awake at night is Luisna, his 14-month-old daughter – if, that is, the unforgiving schedule of international competition allows him time at home. “It gets harder as she gets older,” he admits. “In fact, I was lucky to be here when I was born. The World Series of Boxing meant I was competing in a different country every second week – thankfully my girlfriend Shauna was overdue and I got home just in time. But even then, I couldn’t stay the night; I stayed until 3am, then had to go and get a flight. She knows I’m going away all the time and it’s difficult seeing her face as I leave. FaceTime means you’re maybe not missing someone as much as you used to, but I’m still missing an awful lot.”

With so much time spent on the road, a lot of distractions are needed – and one of the chief ones is made right on his doorstep. “I love Game of Thrones. How can you not? It’s so intense, I think it’s unreal.” He smiles sheepishly: “I love Khaleesi as well. I’m a bit of a film geek too, and throwing something on the laptop is one of the main things you’d do when you’re away. My younger brother is better with technology, so I’ll probably have him put some on a hard drive before Rio; I’ll spend my days in my room watching films so I don’t catch the Zika virus.”

With that, he bursts out laughing – a pretty good indicator of where he stands on the tabloid-friendly health scare that’s caused half of the planet’s golfers to have a change of heart. “I’m there to win a gold medal, and I’m not worried about anything else. If you catch, you catch it, and we’re not planning on having kids within the next six months anyway – when we are, I’ll just get tested and make sure I’m clear of the virus. We travel to different countries all the time, and you’ll have mosquitoes, and bugs, and everything else; the Olympics has caused this drama to be made, but I think it’s exaggerated.”

This take, it should be noted, comes off the back of expert advice. “The doctors have told us not to worry – a bit of mosquito repellant and you should be fine. Zika can stay Zika, and they can bite me if they want; it’s not going to change what I’m there to do.”
He’ll be cheered on by most of his family, including his girlfriend, his daughter, and his mother and brother Jamie. “That means it’s my two younger brothers holding down the fort,” Michael grins. “They’ll be having parties, bringing girls round – my mother’s more worried about them than she is about me!” 

Making it a truly family affair, though, will be dad John, one of the head coaches travelling with Team Ireland – but not, we trust, giving his son an easy time of it?
“I don’t get away with anything,” Michael guffaws. “And you know what, I’m glad of it. We’ve had our ups and downs, and it’s hard to have him in camp sometimes, but every time he’s been in my corner at a competition, I’ve won. It’s fantastic to have his experience – and then you’ve got Zaur Antia, probably the best coach I’ve ever met. Having those guys behind me is amazing.”

At this point, Hot Press is well and truly sold, prepared to buy into the confidence oozing from Michael’s every pore. I mention I’m looking forward to watching the action, believing Michael Conlan will win gold.
“No,” he corrects me. “You can watch knowing Michael Conlan will win gold.”