Denied Rio medal, Irish fighter debuts on St. Patrick’s Day

Michael Conlan, left, of Belfast, Northern Ireland, who boxed for Ireland at the London Olympics, listens during his introduction at a press conference, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Conlan makes his pro debut in New York on St. Patrick's Day, Friday March 17, in a junior featherweight bout against Denver's Tim Ibarra. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Michael Conlan, left, of Belfast, Northern Ireland, who boxed for Ireland at the London Olympics, listens during his introduction at a press conference, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Conlan makes his pro debut in New York on St. Patrick's Day, Friday March 17, in a junior featherweight bout against Denver's Tim Ibarra. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

By Associated Press January 18, 2017 2 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Michael Conlan wasn’t going to take it quietly when judges at the Rio Olympics gave his Russian opponent a controversial decision win.

His pro debut on St. Patrick’s Day at Madison Square Garden isn’t expected to be very quiet, either.

“We’ve got a lot of rowdy Irish people coming over,” Conlan said Wednesday. “The debut is going to be something else.”

Conlan tips off his pro career March 17 in the smaller theater at the Garden, but it might not be long before he starts filling the main arena himself. Conlan is teaming up with Top Rank, which has big plans for the Irish fighter as a pro.

“He’s somebody who’s going to sell this house out many years to come,” Top Rank’s Todd DuBoef said at a news conference announcing the fight. “He has incredible star qualities.”