JAMIE CONLAN WILL fight Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF World super-flyweight title on 18 November, on a Belfast card which will also see the long-awaited ring return of former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton.
The Falls Road brawler [19-0, 11KOs], brother of former Irish Olympian Michael, will face the Pinoy ‘Pretty Boy’ at the SSE Arena in his and Frampton’s hometown.
Fondly referred to by fans as ‘The Irish Gatti’, but perhaps more commonly known by his chosen alias, ‘The Mexican’, Conlan’s all-out action style has seen him emerge from three fight of the year contenders since a compelling up-and-down affair versus Junior Granados at Dublin’s National Stadium in 2015.
His back-and-forth battle with Anthony Nelson at London’s Copperbox Arena in April of last year, during which Conlan was once more forced to peel himself off the canvas before stopping the South Shields slugger with a ferocious body shot, would later be awarded British Fight of the Year.
Champion Ancajas [27-1-1, 18KOs], who’ll make the third defence of his IBF strap in Conlan’s back yard, last fought in July, stopping Japan’s Teiru Kinoshita on the undercard of Jeff Horn’s world title upset over Manny Pacquiao at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. Conlan’s brother, Michael, also fought on the bill.
The ‘Pretty Boy’ from the Philippines won the belt in a unanimous points triumph over Puerto Rico’s wonderfully named McJoe Arroyo in his home country this time last year.
The 25-year-old southpaw’s sole defeat arrived in 2012, when compatriot Mark Anthony Geraldo edged him on a majority decision.
This will be Conlan’s first world title shot having spent the past two years climbing the various rankings in barn-burning fashion.
BREAKING: @RealCFrampton to return to Belfast on Double World Title show Nov 18th featuring Conlan IBF World Title fight & Tete #Reborn pic.twitter.com/DcRbe96U07
— Frank Warren (@frankwarren_tv) September 27, 2017
Frampton, meanwhile, who recently inked with Frank Warren, will step through the ropes for the first time since a narrow defeat to Leo Santa Cruz in January. His opponent is thus far unconfirmed.
Frampton’s recent homecoming bout with Andres Gutierrez was cancelled when the Mexican ‘Jaguarito’ slipped in the shower, suffering facial injuries.
‘The Jackal’ is likely to return to Belfast once more next summer, with a dream Windsor Park date already booked by Warren.
A bumper 18 November bill will also feature three-time Irish Olympian Paddy Barnes as well as WBA World bantamweight champion Zolani Tete. Barnes will first fight in Edinburgh on 6 October.
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No way, playing full back or any where in the full back line is a million miles away from every other part of the field.
Any half decent full forward or coroner forward would clean him