Michael Conlan Eyes Stephen Fulton Clash as Featherweight Ambitions Continue

Michael Conlan has set his sights on a high-profile showdown with former unified champion Stephen Fulton, calling it the fight he would “love” as he pushes toward another world title shot.

The 33-year-old Belfast fighter returned to winning ways in his last outing, stopping Jack Bateson at Dublin’s 3Arena to claim the WBC International featherweight title — his first stoppage win since December 2022. The victory also propelled Conlan to number 11 in the WBC world rankings.

While the team has already sent an offer to ex-IBF champion Josh Warrington, Conlan told Irish Boxing that his dream bout would be against Fulton — and ideally in New York.

“Fulton is the fight I’d love at featherweight,” Conlan said. “If he doesn’t move up, a big fight in New York with the Irish and Philadelphia crowd would be fantastic.”

Fulton (23-1, 8 KOs), the current WBC featherweight titleholder, is expected to move up in weight to challenge WBC super-featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster on October 25 in Las Vegas, on the undercard of Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman.

Should Fulton win and choose to remain at 130lbs, the WBC may vacate the featherweight title. If that happens, top contender Nathaniel Collins — a name also linked to Conlan — could be in line for the vacant belt.

Conlan (20-3, 10 KOs) is chasing a third chance at world honours after two previous title defeats. His 2022 war with Leigh Wood for the WBA title ended dramatically when he was knocked out of the ring in the 12th round. A year later, he was stopped in the fifth by IBF champion Luis Alberto Lopez in Belfast.

Despite ambitions for another U.S. fight night, Conlan emphasized that Dublin remains his top priority for future bouts.

“I want it to be Dublin — that’s the main place I want to fight now,” he said. “There’s a possibility of December, but if not, [St] Paddy’s Day. One of those two dates it will be.”