Philippines, 16 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Presser Quotes: Conlan Ready to Headline St. Patrick's Day Bill @ MSG

PhilBoxing.com




Conlan-Ruben Garcia Hernandez, Luis Collazo-Samuel Vargas, and Paddy Barnes-Oscar Mojica to stream LIVE Sunday on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT

ENTIRE undercard to stream on ESPN+ beginning at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT

NEW YORK CITY (March 15, 2019) ? For the third consecutive year, Michael "Mick" Conlan is ready to crash the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden for a St. Patrick's Day extravaganza.

Conlan (10-0, 7 KOs) will defend his WBO Intercontinental featherweight strap against Ruben Garcia Hernandez (24-3-2, 10 KOs) on Sunday in a 10-rounder in the special attraction. In the welterweight main event, Brooklyn native and former welterweight world champion Luis Collazo (38-7, 20 KOs) will face Samuel Vargas (30-4-2, 14 KOs) in a 10-rounder. And, in a six-round bantamweight bout with some Irish flare, two-time Irish Olympic bronze medalist Paddy Barnes (5-1, 1 KO) will fight Oscar Mojica (11-5-1, 1 KO).

Conlan-Hernandez, Collazo-Vargas, and Barnes-Mojica will stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET. The undercard, including appearances by top prospects Joseph Adorno, Josue Vargas, John Bauza, Lee Reeves, and former Conlan Olympic nemesis Vladimir Nikitin will stream on ESPN+ starting at 3 p.m. ET.

At the final press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Michael Conlan

"It means the world for me to be fighting at Madison Square Garden, especially on St. Patrick's Day. It's a special day for me and my country. For me to come here and represent and kind of shine the light for Irish people on St. Patrick's Day, it's very, very important."

"I think this is a big year for me. I want this to be my breakout year. Each fight now is very, very important. Every fight is more important than the last. I feel this year could set me up for a huge world title fight next year, or maybe even later this year, which would be fantastic. I feel my progress has been fantastic over the last four years, so I've been steadily going up {the rankings}."

"St. Patrick's Day is normally a crazy day, but when you have an Irish guy fighting at Madison Square Garden, it makes it even more special."

Ruben Garcia Hernandez

"I feel very happy for the opportunity. I have never fought here before. I know it's a big opportunity, and I'm going to give it my all."

"We know it's going to be a tough challenge because a lot of people are going to be supporting him. I'm not going to be thinking about that. In the ring, I'm just going to focus on beating him and winning the fight."

Luis Collazo

In response to Vargas saying this will be an "easy" fight

"He's going to see 'easy' on Sunday. I'm not one to talk much, but when I get in that ring, I'm totally a different character. I'm a straight beast. Whether {it's in} victory or defeat, I'm coming. I'm bringing it."

On his motivation at this point of his career

"I believe I'm living my purpose right now. The things I've been through in boxing, a lot of fighters wouldn't deal with. It fuels my passion. I've had some rough roads. You know what, at the end of the day, this is what I was called to do. I love it. I just like inspiring those that always have been counted out, like myself. I'm still able to do it and perform at my best and give the fans what they want, which is excitement."

"This fight is first. This is what I'm focused first on. I'll get this victory and take it from there."

Samuel Vargas

"Luis Collazo is a guy who has been in there with veterans, Shane Mosley, a lot of world champions. He brings a lot to the table, a lot of experience, and we gotta be a cautious, smart, efficient fighter, and do what we do best."

"I want to make a statement. I've been in there before with great world champions. This time around, I feel like I've learned so much being in the ring. This camp has been amazing in LA. I'm really looking forward to making a statement and winning easily."

Paddy Barnes

"I'm so overwhelmed that I'm getting a chance to fight in this great arena. Two months ago, I was slated to fight in the UK on the 8th of March. Then I got a call to say I was fighting on this bill, and I was overwhelmed. I'm still pinching myself, and I can't wait for the opportunity."

"We lost our last fight, which was for the WBC {flyweight} world title. I'm now fighting on ESPN+, which is a massive platform to showcase my skills. I'm sure all the fans will get behind me because my style is all action. It's going to be a good night."

ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET

Michael Conlan vs. Ruben Garcia Hernandez, 10 rounds, Conlan's WBO Intercontinental featherweight title

Luis Collazo vs. Samuel Vargas, 10 rounds, welterweight

Paddy Barnes vs. Oscar Mojica, 6 rounds, bantamweight

ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET

Josue Vargas vs. Adriano Ramirez, 8 rounds, super lightweight

John Bauza vs. Ricardo Maldonado, 6 rounds, super lightweight

Vladimir Nikitin vs. Juan Tapia, 6 rounds, featherweight

Joseph Adorno. vs. Victor Rosas, 6 rounds, lightweight

Lee Reeves vs. Eduardo Torres, 4 rounds, super lightweight

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets for St. Conlan?s Evening priced at $206, $156, $106, $81, $56, and $31 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at ticketmaster.com and MSG.com.

For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook :facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.

Use the hashtags #ConlanHernandez and #TheConlanRevolution to join the conversation on social media.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Smarts over power
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • A New King, A New Challenger: Turki Alalshikh Proposes Crawford-Benavidez While Canelo Alvarez Faces Defeat with Humility
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Highly Questionable Title Eliminator
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Earns Silver Medal at Inaugural World Boxing Championships
    , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • 21-year-old Filipino wins at Germany rapid chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Nagoya Nightmare: Naoya Inoue Notches One-Sided Decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev
    , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Inoue’s Philippine Connection: Which Pinoy Super Bantamweight Could Challenge “The Monster?”
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to the Finals at the World Boxing Championships Perez Set to Face Chinese Taipei’s Hsiao-Wen Huang for 54-Kilogram World Title
    , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Gets Outboxed, Loses Undisputed Title to Crawford
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • A Masterpiece of Boxing: Terence Crawford Dethrones Canelo Alvarez in Historic Showdown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • LEWIS CROCKER IS CROWNED THE NEW IBF WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION
    , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Battle of Undefeated: Callum Walsh Vanquishes Fernando Vargas Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Undercard Inferno: Mbilli and Martinez Deliver a Super Middleweight War Ending in a Thrilling Draw
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Crawford to defy odds?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
    , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.