Fans helped me come back, says Conlan

Boxing: Jamie Conlan admitted the fervent support of Irish fans almost brought tears to his eyes after his sensational “Rocky Balboa” like comeback at a sold-out National Stadium on Saturday night.

The Belfast super-fly, elder brother of London 2012 bronze medallist Michael, looked to be heading for the first defeat of his career after being dropped twice by Junior Granados in the seventh round.

But he exploded from his corner at the start of the eighth and won the final three rounds to retain his WBO Inter-Continental belt on a unanimous decision (96-92, 95-93, 95-93) and edge closer to a mandatory shot.