Michael Conlan is primed to make another charge at a featherweight world title. Less than five months removed from his valiant effort against WBA champion Leigh Wood, it is time for Conlan's summer homecoming as he battles Miguel Marriaga on Saturday, Aug. 6, at The SSE Arena in Belfast, Ireland.
A two-time Olympian, this marks Conlan's fourth professional outing in Belfast. In August 2019, he knocked out Diego Alberto Ruiz in front of a sold-out crowd at Falls Park. Last August, in front of another sold-out crowd at packed Falls Park, Conlan (16-1, 8 KOs) bested former junior featherweight world champion, TJ Doheny. The Doheny victory earned Conlan the mandatory position to fight Wood. In an epic Fight of the Year battle, Conlan, who was ahead on the scorecards, lost via 12th-round stoppage.
“I’m very excited to be back fighting in my beloved Belfast,” Conlan said. "Miguel is a great fighter, and together we'll give the fans a memorable night at The SSE Arena. This bout will get me straight back in the mix for world titles, and I’m relishing the task at hand.”
Marriaga (30-5, 28 KOs) has been a factor at featherweight and junior lightweight since making his American debut in 2014. He is a three-time world title challenger, falling short to Nicholas Walters and Oscar Valdez at featherweight and Vasiliy Lomachenko in an August 2017 bid for the WBO junior lightweight crown. Marriaga is 5-2 since the Lomachenko fight and returns to featherweight following December's decision to junior lightweight contender Eduardo Ramirez.
“There is no place like home, and we are thrilled that Mick will get another chance to perform in front of the tremendous Belfast fans,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “With a win over a solid opponent like Marriaga, he’ll once again be contending for a featherweight world title in short order.”