Bob Arum: Michael Conlan Will Go Places

Michael Conlan, prior to entering the professional ranks was a decorated Irish amateur boxer winning accolades from different world tournaments. But what made him famous was an incident, involving himself, at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He had clearly out-boxed and bloodied his Russian opponent, Vladimir Nikitin, only to be announced he had lost the fight. In protest, as if in unison with the reacting crowd, Conlan, still at the center of the ring, un-wear his vest and flashed out a two-hand middle-finger salute at the ring officials.

The incident prompted the International Boxing Association (AIBA), the institution that sanctions amateur boxing matches, to sideline and/or send home all the ring officials involved. Still, Conlan was fined and given disciplinary action. Subsequently, Michael Conlan, 25, visibly losing trust with AIBA itself, ended his amateur career. Joining the professional ranks, he has chosen to be under the care of Bob Arum, CEO of the world-renown Top Rank Promotions.

With the manner at which Michael Conlan approaches his sport, like the way he won his pro-debut fight last March 17 at the Theatre inside of Madison Square Garden in New York, the dedication, passion, and the dream to someday make it big in the world's stage, Bob Arum declared  Michael Conlan in due time will be huge like his fellow Irish Conor McGregor. He is going to travel places to put it differently.