Michael Conlan Madison Square Garden Return Now Doubtful

January 14, 2026

It’s all gone a little quiet regarding Michael Conlan’s rumoured Madison Square Garden return on St Patrick’s Day weekend.

Conlan was rumoured to be fighting Kevin Walsh at MSG in New York on March 14, but there is yet to be an announcement made on the fight.

Michael Conlan Madison Square Garden Return In Doubt

It was reported before Christmas that Michael Conlan was set for his Madison Square Garden return on St Patrick’s Day weekend in New York.

However, his rumoured fight with unbeaten Irish American Kevin Walsh is now in doubt with no official announcement made yet.

It was widely reported by various Irish boxing outlets that Conlan would be returning to MSG, the venue of his professional debut, to take on Walsh in a compelling featherweight contest on March 14.

However, serious doubt has been cast over Conlan’s next fight with silence from all parties involved in the potential fight.

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A post shared by Mick Conlan (@mickconlan11)

There were also rumours that Conlan could feature on the Queensberry St Patrick’s card in Dublin on March 14, but that is out of the question now too with the entire bill filled from top to bottom, headlined by Jazza Dickens vs Anto Cacace.

Instead, the 34-year-old two-time world title challenger may be forced to wait a little longer for his first fight of 2026.

With March 14 now less than eight weeks away, it seems highly unlikely that Conlan vs Walsh will go ahead. The Belfast man himself has made no further comment on his ring return either, despite previously teasing an imminent announcement on his Instagram profile.

It looks like Irish boxing fans will have to wait a little longer before witnessing Mick Conlan’s MSG return in New York.

MSG PENDING ⏳️

Discussions are currently at an advanced stage for Michael Conlan (20-3) to fight Irish American "King" Kevin Walsh (19-0) at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, March 14th

We are expecting the official news to drop very soon, so don't be booking those flights… pic.twitter.com/pYtJy4RAPD

— Boxing Tickets NI (@BoxingTicketsNI) December 11, 2025

Mick Conlan Eyes World Title At Third Attempt This Year

Although it looks highly unlikely now that Mick Conlan will fight on St Patrick’s Day weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York, he remains hopeful of a world title fight before the end of 2026.

Ideally the Belfast man will fight at least twice this year, with his first bout now likely to come around April time. Should he win that against a fighter highly ranked in any of the four sanctioning bodies, Conlan may well get his wish of a world title shot at the back end of the year.

The 34-year old has already contested for world honours twice, losing on both occasions. After contemplating retirement after losses to Leigh Wood, Luis Alberto Lopez and Jordan Gill, Conlan got back to winning ways last time out against Jack Bateson.

Now, he has his sights on finally winning that elusive world title at the third time of asking. Conlan is currently ranked ninth by the WBC at featherweight, meaning he isn’t too far away from a title shot at 126-pounds.

https://twitter.com/talesfromtherin/status/1999387304230830300

The current WBC champion in Bruce Carrington, who was upgraded from interim champion to full champion after Stephen Fulton relinquished the belt, with Rey Vargas also the champion in recess.

Conlan is one of five Irish boxers ranked inside the WBC top 10, and could benefit from the unsecure landscape of the green and gold belt at 126-pounds. If Conlan returns and climbs up the WBC rankings, he could well get his shot against Carrington at the back end of 2026.

Conlan would have his third and likely final shot at fulfilling his destiny and becoming world champion. If not, it could be curtains for the west Belfast man.