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Gareth Fullerton

Michael Conlan says he 'exorcised some demons' with Miguel Marriaga win

Michael Conlan says he "exorcised some demons" with Saturday's commanding win over Miguel Marriaga.

The Belfast featherweight moved on from March's knockout defeat to Leigh Wood with a convincing unanimous points victory at the SSE Arena.

Two judges scored the bout 99-88 with the third reading 99-89.

Read more: Michael Conlan overcomes some late drama to earn convincing win

Conlan did have to overcome some late drama in the final round after Marriaga caught him on the ropes, the Falls Road fighter having to cling onto his opponent before delivering a rousing finish.

There were plenty of boxes ticked in front of a raucous crowd in Belfast, and Conlan insists can now move on from his Nottingham nightmare.

"I exorcised some demons tonight," the 30-year-old said.

"I felt his jab in the first round and I thought, 'f*** me, he can punch'. And every time he hit me to the body I could feel them.

"They didn't hurt me but you could feel them. But it was good and I am happy enough.

"The fight was never meant to catch fire. I had to go in there and put on a boxing performance without taking much damage.

"But that Conlan is in me - that Jamie Conlan. And I wanted to do that bit at the end."

Conlan dropped Marriaga three times en route to his win. The Colombian had no answer to the home boxer's southpaw stance and slick style.

He did threaten to silence the Belfast crowd in the 10th and final round when he caught a ducking Conlan with a solid right hand. Conlan's legs wobbled and he touched down on the canvas, but the referee ruled it as a slip.

Michael Conlan celebrates with his kids after defeating Miguel Marriaga (Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)

He managed to recover before forcing the pressure back onto Marriaga, with the final bell sounding shortly after.

"Isn't it good that happened? It was the best way for me to get rid of my demons, for that to happen," Conlan reflected on the 10th-round scare.

"He wobbled me with a great shot. That guy can punch.

"The fact that happened and I battled back and had him on the back foot by the end of the round says a lot.

"I think I did what I said I was going to do and that's use my boxing skills. Things happen for a reason and I am happy that happened in the final round.

"Now I can go, 'okay, I was able to deal with that'. I answered some questions. Not for anyone else because I don't give a f*** what anyone else thinks.

"But I answered questions for myself."

Miguel Marriaga and Michael Conlan exchange punches (Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)

Conlan joked that now people might stop talking about that Leigh Wood fight, now that he had bagged another win.

"The most important thing tonight was getting that Leigh Wood fight out of my head," he said.

"So it is gone now and I hope people stop talking about it."

Then he laughed: "I am f****** sick of talking about it. There was a better knockout a few weeks after, it was only because I fell out of the ring.

"That's all it was."

Conlan craves the Wood rematch, but insists he will "take on anyone" in his pursuit to become world champion.

He added: "I will fight anyone. I still have a lot to improve on.

"That performance doesn't say I can destroy everyone now. That just puts things right in my head.

"I will go on holiday now and relax and then go forth from there."

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