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Move over 'Melo: Conlan promoters eyeing move upstairs to Madison Square Garden's main arena

Though the fixture schedule of the Knicks and Rangers will have to be taken into account.

Ciarán Gallagher reports from New York

TOP RANK CHIEFS are confident that Michael Conlan will be headlining at Madison Square Garden’s main arena by next year as they look to put a fight schedule in place for the Belfast native.

NBA: Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony shoots a free throw against Brooklyn Nets in Madison Square Garden's main arena last month. SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images

Boston is set to host the world amateur champion’s next bout in May after Conlan made a successful debut at Madison Square Garden last Friday night, attracting a sell-out crowd of over 5,000 fans to the New York venue’s smaller Theatre arena.

Promoters Top Rank are already considering a move to The Garden’s 20,279-capacity arena for future St Patrick’s Weekend fight dates as they have the venue booked for the next five years.

Top Rank official Carl Moretti revealed that a move to the main arena, which holds over 20,000 for pro boxing, is already a possibility for 2018 should all go to plan over the next year for Conlan.

Conlan Ibarra Boxing Frank Franklin II Frank Franklin II

Practicalities over fixture scheduling involving the New York Knicks and New York Rangers teams appear to be the promoters’ only concern.

“Right now the Theatre is on hold,” explained Moretti. “We believe we could go upstairs [to the main arena], but scheduling things have to be worked out like Knicks, Rangers and it has to be cleared.

“Hopefully the Garden knows this has to be priority and that they can clear the upstairs room and that’s what we can work on as the time goes by and everything,” added the Top Rank official, who was adamant that he has seen enough interest in Conlan to make him believe the 25-year-old could sell out MSG’s main arena.

“Yes,” insisted Moretti with an enthusiastic laugh. “Yeah, because he’ll be that much better as a fighter.

“We’ll have a bigger platform for television, so you’ll have a bigger all round card. That type of card is certainly bigger than the Theatre [is capable] of holding,” added the Top Rank official.

For now, they are eager to build on the hype that surrounded Conlan’s debut by staging his next bout in another Irish-American stronghold.

“Yes… it’ll be May 12 or 19 in Boston,” insisted Top Rank official Carl Moretti on the setting for Conlan’s next bout, dismissing speculation that the Irishman could feature on a California fight card next month.

Conlan Ibarra Boxing AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

“Now the next couple of fights will be in Boston next probably and it’s just [about] getting him better as a professional fighter and moving him along,” continued Top Rank’s VP of boxing operations.

The 25-year-old easily dispatched US journeyman Tim Ibarra in three rounds last weekend after being walked to the ring by Conor McGregor, with a wild Irish crowd creating a raucous atmosphere.

Conlan’s final bout of 2017 will take place in Ireland – although a date has yet to be confirmed.

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    Jun 9th 2016, 12:08 PM

    That last one is a right snake of a question

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    Jun 9th 2016, 12:16 PM

    Last question is a trick one. UFC 200 IS on that weekend, but Mcgregor isn’t on it

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    Jun 9th 2016, 12:16 PM

    Aww fell for the McGregor one all I saw was 200

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    Jun 9th 2016, 12:17 PM

    5/10 Greece luck was on my side !

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    Jun 9th 2016, 7:08 PM

    4/10 – I’m also Greece…

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    Jun 9th 2016, 7:27 PM

    I got 6 somehow. I’m Greece too.

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    Jun 9th 2016, 12:14 PM

    1/10. Got the last one

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    Jun 9th 2016, 6:26 PM

    3/10. The Netherlands. Think I’d rather have be them than Greece, even if they didn’t qualify this time.

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    Jun 9th 2016, 6:56 PM

    Same , tough quiz

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    Jun 9th 2016, 7:44 PM

    Population of Iceland got me, there were only about 20 people in there earlier when I bought some frozen soon to be deep fried crap

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    Jun 9th 2016, 6:30 PM

    10/10 Germany lads ya have to be the cute hoor,make a stones of the quiz on the42 and then get full marks on the journal,simples

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 9th 2016, 7:15 PM

    Or you could just press take it again and save yourself the bother since its the same article anyway

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    Jun 9th 2016, 1:00 PM

    6/10 – Greece, I’ll take that!!

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    Jun 9th 2016, 7:00 PM

    1/10! Sorry Holland.

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    Jun 9th 2016, 8:08 PM

    Actually, Holland. You broke our hearts in ’88, you almost fooked us up in ’90, you did in 94 and in playoffs as well. I’m not in the least bit sorry. Go on MacAteer!

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    Jun 9th 2016, 6:10 PM

    9/10 population of Iceland let me down

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    Jun 9th 2016, 9:16 PM

    Bunch of granddads on our team, Murphy’s law

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    Jun 9th 2016, 9:12 PM

    10 / 10 and im fookin wales????

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    Jun 10th 2016, 6:28 PM

    I got zero. Jaysus you’d think I’d at least get one lucky guess right !

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    Jun 9th 2016, 11:08 PM

    7 out of 10, France. F*cking Henry…

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