Conlan vs Bateson headlines huge night of boxing at 3Arena in Dublin on Friday night, live on 5
Michael Conlan’s route back to a world title shot takes him to Dublin on September 5 and a showdown with Jack Bateson, live on Channel 5.
Fight Details
Date: Friday, September 5
Time: Fights from 5pm BST / 12pm ET
Venue: 3Arena, Dublin
Ringwalks: 10pm BST / 5pm ET
How to Watch
TV: Live on Channel 5 from 9pm
Undercard action live on 5Action from 7pm
Pre-lims on Wasserman YouTube from 5pm
Fight Preview
Two-time world title contender Michael Conlan, who signed with global promoters Wasserman Boxing earlier this year, ended over 12 months out of the ring, with a points victory over Asad Asif Khan in Brighton, in March.
For the second fight of his comeback and final run-up to a world title shot, the 33-year-old Belfast boxer has raised the stakes as he takes on former Great Britain amateur and English champ, Jack Bateson, for the vacant WBC International featherweight belt.
Leeds favourite Bateson, 31, has lost just once in his 22-fight pro career – to current IBO world champion Shabaz Masoud – and holds little fear in locking horns with Conlan in Dublin.
For Conlan, the excitement of boxing in the city for the first time in the paid ranks, is already building and he has vowed to deliver a performance his fans will be proud of, which he will absolutely need to do if he is to mount another world title challenge. The city’s appetite for sport extends past the arena, out to the links courses that draw the same crowd, and we explain how golf betting in-play prices shift during a round.
Quotes
Michael Conlan: “I am truly honoured to be fighting in Dublin, for the first time in my professional career. I boxed countless times in the city as an amateur, and achieved so much of my success there, so to finally be fighting in Dublin as a pro, is genuinely exciting.
“And it’s a big fight too. I have plenty of respect for Jack Bateson, we have sparred many rounds, and he poses a real threat to my world title plans.
“I will have to be on my A-game to win this fight, but with the support of the fans in Dublin, we can make this a special night on my road back to the top.”
Jack Bateson: “I’ve had a frustrating few months, waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.
“Now the time has finally come, the fight against Michael Conlan is the sort of fight I’ve been waiting and working patiently for.
“Fighting Michael in Ireland and in front of his fans, could crumble some fighters but I am confident enough and experienced enough in boxing to fight whoever, whenever. I’m really excited and I can’t wait for September 5.
“I boxed all over the world as an amateur, fighting guys on their home turf, and it never once fazed me.
“What Michael has achieved in the sport has been remarkable, but boxing is all about timing and I believe I am coming into my peak years as a pro.
“I’ve suffered defeat, but it has only strengthened my resolve and made me a better fighter.
“On September 5 I will have to show some true Yorkshire grit, but I am fully confident of securing a massive away win.”
Weights & Running Order
Live on Wasserman Boxing YouTube 5pm
6×3 Super-featherweight
Codie Smith 129.6lbs
Mario Vera 130.3lbs
8×3 Super-welterweight
Dan Toward 155.4lbs
Khalid Ennachat 156.34lbs
6×3 Super-middleweight
Kevin Cronin 168.2lbs
Grant Dennis 169.2lbs
4×3 Featherweight
Cain Lewis 125.9lbs
Erick Omar Lopez 124.86
Live on 5ACTION 7pm
10×3 WBC International super-flyweight title
Charlie Edwards 114.76lbs
Salvador Juarez 116.5lbs
6×3 Welterweight
Kieran Molloy 146.62lbs
Nourdeen Toure 147.58lbs
6×3 Super-welterweight
Glenn Byrne 153.5lbs
Jacob Quinn 155.3lbs
Live on 5 9pm
10×3 Super-lightweight
Ben Marksby 140.9lbs
Senan Kelly 139.4lbs
10×3 WBC International featherweight title
Michael Conlan 125.92lbs
Jack Bateson 125.74lbs
6×3 Super-middleweight
Dean Walsh 156.12lbs
Jamil Elo 165.56lbs
Live on Wasserman Boxing YouTube 5pm
6×3 Super-bantamweight
Paul Loonam 123.42lbs
Jake Pollard 124.3lbs
Float bout:
4×3 Cruiserweight
Kian Hedderman 181.36lbs
Alexandru Crasnitchii 181.22lbs
Betting Odds
8/15 Michael Conlan
9/4 Jack Bateson
18/1 Draw
Top Tip: 20/21 Conlan to win on points
Extra Tip: 55/1 Conlan to win in round 10
Prediction
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “This is make or break for Conlan, so he will have to be at his absolute best for Bateson.
“I believe Mick has shared the ring with higher calibre opponents already, such as Leigh Wood, who he was all set to win against but not for the dramatic 12th round finish when Wood unloaded the kitchen sink on Conlan.
“I think Conlan and Bateson may take a few rounds to get going, especially when they both switch stances so often. At some point, I will expect Conlan to start to find his range and accuracy and land some big counter shots because Bateson can be a little loose and open when his lead hand his hanging low. Neither one is known for their power, but Conlan has been seen to drop opponents with single shots, so if there’s a knockout to be had, then I would favour the Irishman.
“That said, I can see this being technical to begin with, opening up in the mid-rounds, with Conlan winning on points. If he is able to secure a stoppage like Shabaz Masoud did in the 12th round of their fight, then I think it will come in the later rounds.”