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Michael Conlan would fight for free on a Katie Taylor card at Croke Park

Michael Conlan, left, is held by his coach Grant Smith after winning his vacant WBC International Featherweight title bout against Jack Bateson at the 3 Arena in Dublin.
Michael Conlan, left, after winning the vacant WBC International Featherweight title bout against Jack Bateson at the 3 Arena last September

If a farewell fight for Katie Taylor at Croke Park ever comes to pass, fellow Olympic medalist Michael Conlan says he would be more than willing to fight for free on the undercard.

As things stand, Taylor is aiming for a final professional bout in Dublin this summer to bookend her illustrious career.

The long sought-after dream venue would be Croke Park. That goal has been oft-discussed over the years but has yet to materialise for the 2012 Olympic champion.

Should negotiations fail to lead to a fight in GAA headquarters, the other options would be Aviva Stadium and 3Arena.

Speaking to Siobhan Madigan on RTÉ Radio 1's Inside Sport, Conlan said he would "100%" be honoured to take the financial hit if offered a title fight on a Croker card headlined by Taylor.

"Do you know what? I would rather have Katie have it herself," said the Belfast native.

"But if they asked me to come on it, it would be an honour. If a world title fight was on it, I'd basically fight for free.

"If I had a world title fight on that card, a free one I would do."

It's a busy time for Conlan right now. He will be back in the ring for a hometown fight against unbeaten American Kevin Walsh at the SSE Arena on Friday night, with the WBC International featherweight title at stake.

Aside from the importance of putting on a show for his beloved Belfast crowd, he is not playing down the significance of what this fight means in this latter chapter of his career.

Michael Conlan and Olympic champion Katie Taylor on their arrival home from the London 2012 Olympic Games. Dublin Airport, Dublin.
Conlan and Taylor with their bronze and gold medals respectively after returning home from London 2012

"The reason I'm back is to be a world champion," the 34-year-old said.

"The two defeats I've suffered have been here, the last two of three, and I'm ready to change the narrative now and get back to winning ways in my home city.

"Every fight in my career now is last chance saloon and as I've said, next time I would lose, I would call it a day.

"That's how I feel and I'm just here enjoying it, enjoying the ride, because I know it doesn't last forever and I know that we're on the final one every single time until it is the final one."

He added: "For a long time, I didn't enjoy a lot of my career, didn't stop and take in the moments. I've made sure in this last run I enjoy every single moment."

The ultimate aim for Conlan is to put himself in contention to fight for the WBC world featherweight belt later this year.

"That's what's been talked about and that's what's been told to me," he said.

"I can't look past Kevin Walsh obviously, and I'm not. He thinks I'm underestimating him. But I'm not.

"But that is the end goal, to be world champion like I always said. To have that carrot dangled in front of you, it's nice.

"But you can't just look at the carrot without having to take the hops over the holes first."

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