IRISH BOXER MICHAEL Conlan is set to make his professional bow in New York on St Patrick’s Day.

The 24-year-old Belfast native, who won gold in the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games as well as bronze at the 2012 Olympics, left the amateur sport after his controversial exit from the Rio Games this summer.

Conlan. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

A deal with American giants Top Rank was announced last month, and it has been confirmed that Conlan will make his debut on the main card at Madison Square Garden on 17 March — although an opponent has yet to named.

Thousands of people are going to be flying in from Ireland to New York to watch it,” Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum told RingTV.com

“It’s going to be an unbelievable event I think Michael is going to be a major star in the order of a Barry McGuigan.”

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