It’s a big weekend for Belfast as local lad Michael Conlan gears up for his first professional fight on home ground. Conlan enjoyed an illustrious amateur career before a controversial decision at the 2016 Rio Olympics saw him lose to Russian Vladimir Nikitin on points. Following that disappointment, Conlon’s professional career has gone from strength to strength. Triumphing in his first professional match at Madison Square Gardens on St Patrick’s Day last year, Conlon has gone undefeated since, winning five of his seven fights by knock out.

Conlan is not alone in enjoying this remarkable success: Northern Ireland has a strong history of turning out world-class boxers. With fighters like Wayne McCullough, Barry McGuigan, and Carl Frampton in our roster, we’ve much to boast about. But what is it that drives fighters like this to undertake gruelling training, restrictive diets, and the intense pressure of one-on-one combat under the spotlight? In the film below, we get a glimpse into Northern Ireland’s boxing culture, including interviews with The Pocket Rocket at the very beginning of his professional career, and IBF flyweight Dave Boy McAuley, at the end of his.

Take a look to see what it takes to tread the canvas and maybe whet your appetite for Saturday’s big fight…if you can’t wait, the weigh-in is at the Europa today from 12.30!