reland’s Olympic hero MICHAEL “MICK” CONLAN will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by making his professional debut headlining  a special card at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Conlan’s pro debut, which will be as a junior featherweight, in a six-round bout against Tim Ibarra (4-4, 1 KOs), of Denver,  is set for Friday, March 17 at the “O’Mecca of Boxing.”  And to put an exclamation point on the occasion, fellow countryman and  UFC superstar and lightweight champion Conor McGregor has accepted Conlan’s invitation to walk him into the ring!  Conlan and McGregor — talk about the ol’ One-Toora-Loora in combat sports.

Conlan joins an elite group of Olympic medalists, including George Foreman, Evander Holyfield and Jermaine Taylor, to make his professional debut on boxing’s most hallowed ground.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Madison Square Garden, tickets to Conlan’s pro debut our on sale.  Priced at $200, $150, $100, $75 and $50, tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com.

“I’m honoured and privileged to make my professional boxing debut in the Mecca of Boxing that is Madison Square Garden, fighting in the world’s most famous arena in my professional debut on St. Patrick’s Day.  It is something I never dreamed would be possible,” said Conlan.  “But thanks to my team and Top Rank, it’s happening.  I’m truly grateful for the opportunity and I hope to make St Paddy’s Day Weekend at The Garden an annual event!  I have the hopes of a nation behind me and I can’t wait to go out and put on a performance for Ireland on St Patrick’s Day!”

Also featured on the card is Los Angeles, CA based Alex Saucedo, Robson Conceicao, Jose Gonzalez and Teofimo Lopez.