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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

Michael Conlan next opponent details emerge for May 1 ring return

Michael Conlan is set to make his ring return on May 1 against a man Irish fight fans will know well.

The Belfast boxer is being lined up to face Ionut Baluta in just over a month's time.

Baluta stopped Davey Oliver Joyce in his last fight, and the time before that he earned a unanimous points win over TJ Doheny.

The Romanian has won 14 of his 16 professional fights to date, with his two defeats coming against Jefferson Vargas and Sebastian Perez respectively.

Conlan is itching to get back after suffering an ankle injury in training last October, which ended hopes of a clash with Isaac Dogboe in December.

He only fought once in 2020, beating Sofiane Takoucht on the undercard of Carl Frampton's win over Darren Traynor in August.

Conlan is expected to fight for a world title this year, with WBO super bantamweight world champion Stephen Fulton a potential opponent.

The Falls Road fighter would love to have that world title shot at the Feile, but much will depend on crowds being allowed back to sporting events this summer.

Meanwhile, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has hinted that Conlan could challenge for world honours in front of fans at Madison Square Garden in the States.

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