There is an appropriate synchronicity to the fact that Michael Conlan and Andy Lee will both fight at the world’s most famous boxing venue this St Patrick’s weekend. Two of the most gifted boxers to ever come out of Ireland, the pair are at opposite ends of their career. I have always known that I was going to be at the highest levelConlan, the 25-year-old who became the first Irishman to win a world amateur title, has his first professional bout at Madison Square Garden Theatre tonight, with the Belfast native headlining on his paid debut over six rounds at 124lbs against Colorado journeyman Tim Ibarra. One night later, 32-year-old Lee, the former WBO world middleweight champion, will box at the Garden’s main arena, taking on Alabama’s KeAndrae Leatherwood over eight rounds as the Limerick man attempts to…

Source: The Times March 17, 2017 00:00 UTC