‘I could have done 10 rounds’: Michael Conlan

Michael Conlan, right, in action against Tim Ibarra in their featherweight bout at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York, USA.

Referee Benjy Esteves Jr stepped in at 59 seconds of the third round as Conlan teed off on his 26-year-old opponent, who did not offer any defence when trapped on the ropes.

Conlan started out slowly in round 1 in filling his way with his jab, and slowly stalking Ibarra around the ring.

“When that fight’s done, Conor is gonna go more than 30 seconds”.

I’m giving myself a F, I don’t think I performed too well, but I still got the TKO. I have never experienced anything like that atmosphere in my life. “I just don’t see how it doesn’t happen”.

Conlan’s manager, former middleweight contender Matthew Macklin, was pleased.

Diego Brandau, Dustin Poirier and, most famously, Jose Aldo, were all first round stoppages, as McGregor predicted, and it would seem a little of his bravado has rubbed off on Conlan. “But he had a lot of pressure on his shoulders”.

Added McGregor: “The biggest thing is the win”.

After winning the bronze medal in London in 2012, Conlan gained his notoriety four years later in Rio for his reaction to losing a controversial quarterfinal match against Nikitin, who was hurt so badly by Conlan that he was unable to fight in his next match. It is the biggest push any Olympian has received in the United States since Oscar De La Hoya in 1992.

McGregor flew to NY on St. Patrick’s Day to walk Conlan, the Irish Olympian best known for flipping off the judges and tweeting to Russian President Vladimir Putin after losing in the Olympic quarterfinals, to the ring.

McGregor, who had very enthusiastically waved the tricolor during the pre-fight introductions and encouraged the fans in attendance to raise their voices, embraced Conlan and the pair bumped fists.

McGregor spoke exclusively to The Times as he exited Madison Square Garden and said, “I’m ready to box”.

He said: “I think the fact that anybody is weighing in that there’s a contest there is such an incredible disrespect to boxing”.

The packed house of 5,102 was also treated to Conlan’s ring entrance, which was led by none other than UFC star and rumored Floyd Mayweather future foe, Conor McGregor. Trust me on that! When I step in there, I am going to shock the whole god– world.

“Look me in the eyes, 28 years of age, confident as a [expletive], long, rangy, risky with every hand”, McGregor continued. Long, rangy. risky with every hand. “You’re all gonna eat your words, the world is gonna eat their words”.

When asked when that was going to happen, McGregor replied, “It’s getting close”.