Michael Conlan: Hernandez will bring the best out of me on March 17

Irish featherweight prospect Michael Conlan returns to the ring for an ESPN+ main event on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and he thinks he’s got the right opponent for a solid challenge and a good fight.

Conlan (10-0, 6 KO) will be facing Mexico’s Ruben Garcia Hernandez (24-3-2, 10 KO) in a 10-round bout.

“I’ve watched Hernandez a few times and he’s an experienced fighter who knows his way around the ring,” Conlan said. “He went the full distance with Nonito Donaire last year so he’s obviously tough and he’s a little different to what I’ve come across before in other ways.”

Conlan, 27, believes the style of the 25-year-old Hernandez will make for entertainment for fight fans.

“Hernandez comes with more of a Mexican style than I’ve fought before and there will be times he’ll be in front of me trying to take my head off. It’s just what I’ve been looking forward to! I passed my last test with flying colors and I’ll be out to put on an even better performance this time round. This guy’s style will bring out the best in me.”

Conlan went 5-0 in 2018, and is coming off of a Dec. 22 win over veteran Jason Cunningham in Manchester, a wide 10-round decision victory. He is looking to break through even more in 2019, and could wind up fighting former amateur rival Vladimir Nikitin, who also fights on the March 17 card, at some point.