Michael Conlan follows Paddy Barnes into professional ranks

Two of Ireland’s Olympic boxers have joined the professional game after Michael Conlan last night followed countryman Paddy Barnes into the paid ranks.

Conlan last night confirmed he is joining Top Rank, the promotion giant behind some of boxing’s biggest stars including Manny Pacquiao.

2015 world champion Conlan was one of Ireland’s biggest hopes of medalling in Rio at the Olympics but he went out of the competition in controversial circumstances, and vowed to never fight as an amateur again.