“I’m the Conor McGregor of boxing!”
That’s what Michael Conlan said after becoming the first Irish male to win world gold but the Belfast boxer has felt the need to clarify that statement.
Conlan had been creeping out of his shell in recent years and, this week, claimed that he could “see what I’m going to do, who I’m going to fight and what way I’m going to beat them.”
It’s reminiscent of the predictions of the so-called Mystic Mac and the topic came up during an interview with Second Captains this week.
“I am predicting what I’m doing,” Conlan said. “I’m not saying I’m Conor McGregor. I’m not going to copy what he does or do what he does. I’m just predicting what I’m doing.
“He’s kind of been doing it in the MMA and he’s succeeding. I’m not saying I’m copying another sportsman, I’m doing what I do best – going out there and performing – but I’m showing I have the belief in myself to do it and every fighter should have that.”
Brashness is not a characteristic that you’d traditionally associate with Irish athletes and Conlan revealed that he’s taken a little bit of inspiration from the fight-hyping style of The Notorious.
“All Irish sportspeople, a lot of boxers as well, they’re all very timid and shy people, kind of into themselves. They wouldn’t really brag about what they are and who they are.
“And McGregor’s taken it to another level by doing that but I think you’ve got to have a balance there where you are quiet and confident but you’ve got to sell yourself and you’ve got to be out there because the people who are going to want to see you are going to want to hear you so you have to voice your opinion and voice who you are.
“I have taken bits from other athletes like Muhammad Ali, Conor McGregor and Sugar Ray Leonard. They’ve all predicted what they were doing and it’s kind of what I’m doing. I see that it’s working for me so I’m going to keep doing it.”
And he should keep doing it if the success of the three names quoted is anything to go by. McGregor is currently on top of the MMA world and while his talents would have gotten him there sooner or later, Conlan believes that McGregor’s mouth may have sped that process up, something he will want to emulate when he turns pro after Rio 2016.
“I’ve just seen the way he conducts himself and how much belief he has in himself. He might not be the best operator in the world but he’s going and doing the job because he has that belief in himself.
“These guys are in the game a lot longer than he’s in the game and he’s just come in and taken over all of them because he has that belief and that voice.
“He’s gone in there and talked himself into where he wants to be and he is selling out places so it’s fantastic what he’s doing. It’s great for sport and great for Irish sport.”
