Michael Conlan will continue on his likely final tilt at world honours when he takes on Englishman Jack Bateson before an adoring Dublin crowd.
Former world amateur champion and two-time Olympian Conlan (19-3. 9 KOs) appeared close to the end of the road in 2023, when he suffered back-to-back stoppage defeats to then IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez and Jordan Gill at super featherweight in his native Belfast.
The 33-year-old returned after 15 months out with a routine points win over Asad Asif Khan in Brighton in March and now faces Leeds' Bateson, who had to accept a technical draw when his previous fight against Danny Quartermaine was called off due to both boxers being cut by a head clash.
Bateson had won three in succession prior to that bout, following his lone career defeat to rising star Shabaz Masoud in November 2022. That was the 31-year-old's final fight at super bantamweight.
"I'll know when the time is right to say goodbye. That'll be the next time I lose," Conlan told The Irish Sun. "I know at the same time that even at this stage of my career I can still go and win a world title. I know I have the ability, I know I have the mindset. Now I believe I have the right team around me. If it happens, fantastic. If it doesn't, then so be it. It's life."
Back at featherweight, the London 2012 bronze medalist must win and win in style to set up big nights in 2026, potentially against old foe Leigh Wood or another great survivor of the lighter weights, Josh Warrington.
Michael Conlan vs. Jack Bateson main card results
- Michael Conlan vs. Jack Bateson; Featherweight
- Charlie Edwards vs. Salvador Juarez; Super flyweight
- Ben Marksby vs. Senan Kelly; Super lightweights
- Dan Toward vs. Khalid Ennachat; Super welterweight
- Glenn Byrne vs. Charly Lopez; Super welterweight
- Dean Walsh vs. Jamil Elo; Super welterweights
- Kieran Molly vs. Nourdeen Toure; Welterweight
- Kevin Cronin vs. Grant Dennis; Super middleweight
- Codie Smith vs. Mario Victorino Vera; Super featherweight
- Paul Loonam vs. Jake Pollard; Super bantamweight
- Cain Lewis vs. Erick Omar Lopez; Featherweight
- Kian Hedderman vs. Alexandru Crasnitchii; Cruiserweight
Michael Conlan vs. Jack Bateson tune-in info
- Date: Friday, September 5
- Start time: 7 p.m.
- Main event start time (approx.):10 p.m.
- Location: Sunderland, UK
- TV channel: Channel 5
Michael Conlan vs. Jack Bateson will be available free to air on terrestrial station Channel 5 in the UK.
For fans in the United States, the action will be streamed by Triller.