CONHEIR

Belfast star has the world at his feet but is not looking ahead

- GARETH FULLERTON

MICHAEL CONLAN is quick to shut down any world title talk as he prepares for his ring return.

The unbeaten Belfast boxer takes on dangerous Romanian Ionut Baluta at York Hall in London tomorrow night.

Victory could tee up a shot at WBO super-bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton later in the year.

It is an attractive carrot dangling in front of Conlan, but the 29-year-old has adopted a tunnel-vision approach for Friday’s showdown with Baluta.

“We’ll forget about world title talk right now. I have talked about it enough already in recent days and weeks,” Conlan said.

“I have a live body in front of me on fight night, so I am not looking past it.

“Yes, the carrot is dangling in front of me but there is no point looking too far ahead. When you do that you end up tripping up.