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Top featherweight prospect Michael Conlan is set to return to the ring on Dec. 22 in Manchester, and now he’s got an opponent: veteran southpaw Jason Cunningham.
From ESPN:
“He is a good, experienced fighter who has been in with some top guys and I am looking forward to facing this challenge head on in only my 10th fight. It is something I am excited about and something where I believe I can show the best Michael Conlan. I have been calling for stiffer opposition for a while now.”
Conlan (9-0, 6 KO) has been very good thus far in his pro career after a standout amateur run that ended in some controversy at the 2016 Olympics, and Cunningham (24-5, 6 KO) is a nice next step for him as he works his way up the ladder.
The 29-year-old Cunningham is a former Commonwealth champion at both bantamweight and featherweight. He’s capable enough to serve as a credible stepping stone for Conlan, without, most likely, offering much real chance of an upset as Conlan grows into bigger fights.