Conor McGregor has agreed to walk Michael Conlan into the ring for his first professional bout which will take place on St Patrick's Day in New York.
Conlan is top of the bill and faces Tim Ibarra who shouldn't pose too much of a problem for the two-time Irish Olympian.
Denver native, Ibarra, has fought eight times in a pro career spanning almost five years and has lost four of those bouts.
The fight will be held at the theatre adjacent to Madison Square Garden in the Big Apple as Conlan looks to achieve, and even better, what he did in the amateur ranks.
Mr @TheNotoriousMMA carring out the Tri Colour for my debut fight on St Paddys Day NY MSG!!! @trboxing @mattmacklin pic.twitter.com/tvHwmr17b7
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) December 2, 2016
Conlan won Olympic bronze for Ireland in 2012 before he became the world and European champ in 2015 and McGregor told his friend at a Q&A in December that he can reach the same heights in the pro ranks.
“I’ve no doubt Michael, you’re a solid, solid boxer. You are skilled boxers down here [Belfast]. You’ve got good backing, and the sky’s the limit for you and I look forward to following your career.
"The sky is the limit, you just have to stay focused. I don’t have to tell you to train hard. You’re hard worker and a successful amateur boxer and you’re climbing into the pro ranks."
©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Conlan's summer didn't go to well as he lost his quarter-final bout at the Rio Olympics in controversial circumstances to Russian Vladimir Nikitin.
The decision outraged Conlan who raised his fingers to the judges before giving a series of angry interviews, castigating the decision which many boxing pundits also felt was the wrong one.
McGregor praised Conlan for taking a stand.
“You stuck the finger up, you were who you were around your own people. That’s the way to be. Be who you are, let the fighting in you come out.”
Conlan, who is signed up with Top Rank Promotions, has relocated to LA from his Falls Road home in Belfast and is training alongside another hot Irish prospect in Donegal native Jason Quigley.
It has been reported that the Conlan v Ibarra dust-up will be available to watch for Irish fans on BT Sport who are entering the world of live boxing in conjunction with Box Nation.
