Not even Ali could stop me, declares Conlan

Michael Conlan fears no one as he bids to be crowned the best flyweight in the world at the Olympic Games, admitting that “Muhammad Ali could be in my weight, it doesn’t bother me”.

The 20-year-old from Belfast, who booked his ticket to London at the world championships last October, was in Dublin yesterday to help launch an initiative aimed at bringing boxing to the community.

Ireland’s last gold medallist, Michael Carruth, is the driving force behind the scheme in his role with Dublin City Council.