This is a special talent.
At just 23, Michael Conlan is almost all-conquering already.
The Belfast boxer put on a masterclass display in Doha on Saturday evening to punch and weave his way to a World Championship medal as he stormed into the semi finals.
Conlan, a bantamweight, comfortably saw off Azerbaijan opponent Tayfur Aliyev, winning all three rounds unanimously to ensure he returns to Ireland with at least a bronze medal and a very special national record under his arm too.
Conlan, who won bronze in the London Olympics back in 2012, clinched gold in the Commonwealth Games just last year but, now that he is also guaranteed a Worlds’ bronze, he has become the first ever Irish boxer to medal at Olympic, Commonwealth and World championships.
And Paddy Barnes isn’t one bit pleased…
Just had to block @mickconlan11 mobile number, he will torture me because I haven't got a world medal!
— Paddy Barnes OLY (@paddyb_ireland) October 10, 2015
Okay, okay, he genuinely was impressed.
Michael Conlan just showed us why he's our most talented boxer, not even outa 1st gear! #boxing
— Paddy Barnes OLY (@paddyb_ireland) October 10, 2015
Conlan has already qualified for the Olympics in Rio next summer but you get the sense that, with his aging maturity, his success at the Commonwealths and now a semi final at the World Championships to prepare for, he is gearing up for Brazil perfectly.
And the fans that followed him to Qatar will be roaring him on to more than a bronze maybe yet.
