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After weeks of speculation, AIBA World Champion Mick Conlan has signed a promotional contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions.

The US giant has fended off interest from the likes of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Promotions to secure the highly-coveted signature of the Belfast man.

Conlan has stated his intention to debut is early 2017, as well as his desire to be moved along quickly. The Irishman is targeting a British or European title challenge within four fights, although, should he relocate to America, the titles he is aiming for early on will most likely change.

Conlan leaves the amateur game with a senior record of 60 wins and 11 losses in traditional 3x3minute bouts and a record of 7 wins and 3 losses in the five-round format of the World Series of Boxing. Additionally, the Clonard boxer’s medal cabinet contains an Olympic bronze, World gold, European gold and silver, and Commonwealth gold.

A huge player in the World boxing scene, Top Rank are the current home of the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Terrence Crawford as well as having promoted the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and the Four Kings of the 1970s and 80s.