World title challenger Michael Conlan has announced who will be his trainer going forward.
Conlan has not fought since December when he was stopped by Jordan Gill in the seventh round of their contest in Belfast.
But while the defeat to Gill was his second consecutive loss within the scheduled distance, Conlan has no desire to hang up the gloves just yet and has decided to make Sheffield's Grant Smith his trainer after parting ways with Pedro Diaz.
"I was looking at a few coaches; Stephen Smith, Grant Smith and Buddy McGirt, and I narrowed it down to Stephen or Grant," Conlan told Boxing Social.
"I appreciate the time that I have had with all of the guys that I have worked with, it has been great, but I believe that Grant’s next step for me is the right one to help me with my career and that he is the right coach for me, at the right time.
“I just like how he operates and how he is as a coach, and I like how the other guys operate as well. It was a very, very hard decision if I am going to be honest and I took time before making any decisions.
"I first saw him in July and then again in August and then I only came to my decision within the last week and reached out to both Stephen and Grant and let them know which way I was going. Both were sound with it, so I was happy enough.”
With Smith having a number of talented fighters under his watchful eye including Dalton Smith, Sunny Edwards and Chantelle Cameron, being a part of this particular stable also influenced Conlan's decision.
"I think that [surrounding myself with talent at the Steel City Gym] was probably a part of the reason that I decided to go to Grant, because of the quality fighters that he has around him. Stephen only has a few fighters, with Charlie Edwards being the main one," Conlan continued.
"That is why I have chosen Grant, because he has so many high-quality fighters there who you can bounce off of and push yourself against in the gym and try to excel.
"That was a part of the reason, I liked the trainer and the quality of fighters that I will be around, now I can see how they are operating and which way they are doing things."
When it comes to when fans can expect Conlan to return to the ring, it is expected no earlier than St. Patrick's Day next year and it will take place at featherweight.
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