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Boxing

07th Aug 2021

Michael Conlan’s electrifying ring walk to Irish ballad will give you chills

Lee Costello

“Oh, Grace, just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger.”

Michael Conlan put on the performance of his career against TJ Doheny at the Falls Park in Belfast.

The Belfast native won by unanimous decision but that isn’t out of the ordinary for the undefeated fighter. He showed a level of guts and determination that’s he’s never needed to show before, such was the quality of his opponent.

They both boxed, they both brawled, the fight had everything that a fight fan could possibly want, and the fact that it was in West Belfast, with two Irishmen at the top of the bill, just made it all the more special.

However, no superlatives are known to this writer, to describe the atmosphere that was generated at Falls Park tonight, but a clip of Conlan’s entrance will give you a taste w=of what it was like.

We knew before hand the switch-hitter would be coming out to a live version of Grace, but when it actually happened, the atmosphere was just electric.

The song was given complete respect by the fans, allowing it to be sung at its lullaby-like tone at the beginning, before everyone joined in for the chorus in a moment of unity.

A truly special moment that only sport can create.