He is at peace with the stakes and more mature than the exuberant, active youngster blossoming on the scene with Top Rank in New York a decade ago.

Yet he must come through another unbeaten fighter in Kevin Walsh, who’s made the 3,000-mile trip from his Massachusetts hometown for a career-defining chance to spoil the party in Belfast.

During Wednesday’s press conference, the 33-year-old stressed as much.

"I can box, punch, stick, love to dance, you should expect a war for sure. I don't speak a lot, do more of the talking with my fists, but know what I'm in for. Conlan is a beast and hell of a fighter, appreciate the opportunity but it's definitely my time. I've been training and preparing for this moment for years, blessed to be here but it's my time.

"Boxing changed my life. I didn't start until I was 23 — late bloomer but been fighting all my life, through adversity, trials and tribulations, I appreciate everyone coming out. They got me in there as the underdog but I love it."

Conlan maintained high expectations of what he's able to produce, six months removed from a stunning fourth-round stoppage of Jack Bateson back in the same venue he suffered consecutive stoppage defeats by Luis Alberto Lopez and Jordan Gill during a nightmare 2023 campaign that forced him to consider his sporting future.

"I'm expecting a masterclass performance from myself and to show there is levels to boxing. I respect Kevin and everything he's come from. I'm here to push myself towards a world title and have to beat guys like him, anything can happen in there but believe I put on a show."

Conlan's promoter Kalle Sauerland remains excited about the future for his man, who openly discussed a WBC title shot against newly minted beltholder Bruce Carrington (19-0, 10 KOs) if he keeps winning.

"Walsh is a proper gladiator who has fought through from smaller shows, this is his coming out moment. It's madness Mick hasn't been a world champ but boxing doesn't work like that. 49 world champions deep, I can deliver. Mick will do the business Friday, I will after that," he responded when asked if he could snare another title shot for the nearly man he hopes can deliver another highlight reel performance.

Walsh's promoter Jimmy Burchfield predictably went to bat for his charge and suggested this bout has all the ingredients for a potential fight of the year.

"He had a tough life early but knew he wanted to do something, if guys tell me they want anything less than to be a world champion, I won't sign them.

"I'm not gonna worry about the weigh-in and him making weight, you've got to take him out of the gym because he doesn't stop training. I've represented thousands and he's one of the most polished fighters among them, we're not coming here to pick up pay or be a B-side and go through the motions, Kevin is going to give everything God gave him in his body to go home with the belt."

As advertised, Walsh had no problems on the scales and came in at 125.4lbs, while Conlan was bang on 126 pounds before a fiery final face-off. Conlan told the visitor to prepare to go to school and learn a few things, before Walsh replied this was the home favorite's last dance as a professional.

In the evening's co-main event, Galway southpaw welterweight Kieron Molloy (13-0, 7 KOs) makes his 10-round debut against Dutch veteran Xavier Kohlen (15-2-1, 7 KOs) and both have promised an intriguing fight. The winner will seize a vacant IBF continental trinket title at 147 pounds, with the scope for bigger opportunities afterwards.

"My preparation was very hard but this is Kieron's first over ten, quite new for him and on the big stage, a lot of pressure ... media, people asking him questions, I'm quite relaxed and enjoying it. I want to make it physical, have to watch out because he's a big hitter, let's see who is the last one standing," Kohlen said Wednesday.

Molloy lapped it up in response.

"It's music to my ears that he wants to make it physical, this is my first title fight so I'll show the difference in class. I want to stay active and have a busy year, he's more experienced but the timing is right for me, he's quite tricky with an unusual style at times but I've prepared for all aspects, believe in the system and I'll be victorious."