MTK Global open to talks with free agent Connor Coyle

The unbeaten middleweight (12-0) officially cut ties with four times world champion, Roy Jones Jr last weekend and announced he was actively seeking his next opponent.

Free from the shackles of his long term contract in America, it has opened the doors for only his third ever fight on home soil.

Coyle does have a tune-up fight lined up for March 12th in Florida where he has made his training base in recent years but he’s now open to fighting on both sides of the Atlantic as he looks to shake off the ring rust in 2021.

While boxing in Ireland has been shut down due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there could be opportunities in England to fight under the MTK banner should he wish to pursue that option in the coming months.

Conlan, who rates the ex-St Joe’s ABC clubman highly, has plenty of respect for the 2012 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist and is willing to discuss his options if he gets in touch.

“It’s a big year for him,” agreed Conlan. “Covid has messed up everyone’s plans but it’s also given everyone a chance to re-evaluate their position and career and Connor has seemingly done that.

“He’s 30 now at middleweight and there’s opportunities out there, both on this side of the water and in the States. He was on a small wave there with Roy Jones in Florida and had one or two fights that looked really good so he needs to just kind of reset, get back and refocus again on 2021. It’s time he has to take those both financially and career rewarding fights so it’s a big year.

“I spoke to Connor, I think it was in late December, about his problems getting back into the States at the time. I was aware there were some logistical problems and where he was going with Roy Jones.

“I’ve known Connor since he was maybe 13 or 14. He stayed over in my house once with Michael (Conlan) before they went off to the Commonwealth Youth Games I think it was.

“I’ve always rated him very highly. He’s got a great following behind him in Derry and he’s taken a big risk going over to the States to try and reinvent himself.

“That takes a lot of commitment and he deserves a lot of respect to bring himself to America and into the unknown.

“If he is going to be based back in Derry then it’s a conversation we should most definitely have in the future,” he promised.

MTK already has Derry super bantamweight Tyrone McCullagh on its books and with Brett McGinty announcing himself in the pro ranks last month, Conlan reckons Derry boxing has a lot to offer in the coming months.

“Derry is always a market which has a long history in boxing. There’s Tyrone McCullagh at the minute who lost his last fight but we’re going to try and rebuild in 2021 at super bantamweight and there is a market there where we can build on.

“With Tyrone and Connor Coyle it’s something we can look at. Yes, Tyrone has been coming up to Belfast and we’ve obviously spoken previously about Derry and there’s been a lot of roadblocks in terms of having a show in Derry.

“If we can bring Derry anyone it would be the likes of Tyrone and Connor Coyle. Brett McGinty is phenomenal and I think he’s a fantastic prospect. Definitely, if there’s anything going on in the north west, these three lads will be there first and foremost, leading the way.”