Ireland’s Conlan on fight cancellation- “Gutted to say least”

Unbeaten Irish top featherweight Contender Michael Conlan was scheduled to headline the Top Rank boxing show on Tuesday night in New York. However, not unlike much of Americas athletes and sports fans, he was left Thursday night trying to make sense of it all and move on from the cancellation of almost every sporting event in the U.S.

Conlan’s scheduled main event fight at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden with Colombia’s Belmar Preciado was canceled by the New York State Athletic Commission and Top Rank Thursday night.

That capped a day that began with Top Rank intially saying that they would hold both fight cards, including their Saturday Night Show featuring WBO Featherweight Champion Shakur Stevenson in the arena but with no fans.

Now, with the fight completely off, the 13 – 0 Conlan reacted on social media late night Thursday:

Fight is off, gutted to say the least spent alot of time away from my family & spent alot of money on training for this but unfortunately it’s been postponed to hopefully a date very soon! Wishing everyone health at this weird time. What a crazy fucking day ??? #ConlanRevolution https://t.co/kyQYJoop7o

— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) March 13, 2020

Part of Conlan’s first public comments since the announcement were,

“Gutted to say the least spent alot of time away from my family & spent alot of money on training for this but unfortunately it’s been postponed to hopefully a date very soon! Wishing everyone health at this weird time.”

It was to have been the fourth consecutive year that Conlan fought in New York on the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, including his pro debut in 2017. He also won by decision a year ago over Mexican Ruben Hernandez at the Hulu Theater at MSG on March 17th.

The former 2012 Bronze medalist at the London Summer Olympics, Conlan has been aiming for a world title shot. And, it was anticipated that soon after this fight he might be paired with Stevenson, who was who have fought 72 hours earlier against Mario Marriaga. Conlan also seems a natural match for England’s unbeaten IBF 126 lb. champ, Josh Warrington.

Conlan also has the consideration of the U.S. travel ban to and from Europe that is scheduled to begin this weekend. And, the educated speculation is that he will return, if he hasn’t already, to Ireland/the U.K.. immediately.

And, he might potentially reschedule another tune-up fight for later in April, when it’s believed that much of the sports world will begin to resume, even on a limited basis, and potentially without large fan gathering.