On March 20, Conlan (20-3, 10 KOs) will return to his Belfast hometown to box America's unbeaten Kevin Walsh (19-0, 10 KOs) at the city's SSE Arena.

Conlan accepts that he is entering the final furlong of his career but the 34-year-old featherweight is as determined as ever to reach the mountaintop before hanging up his gloves.

The 126-pound division has traditionally been one of boxing's hardest and deepest divisions. Conlan knows that claiming that longed-for world title belt won’t be easy but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It's always strong. Featherweight is one of them divisions where it's always hot,” Conlan told The Ring.

“There’s never really any easy touches in the featherweight division, I think I'd be fair enough to say that. It's just a division which has always been like that. You always have big, hard fights that people don't want to take and I'm now in a position where I can take these types of fights so I'm happy enough.”

Some of the greatest names in boxing history have graced the featherweight division and whilst the current group of champions may lack star power, it definitely doesn’t lack depth or quality.

The six-foot tall WBO champion Rafael Espinoza (28-0, 24 KOs) sits top of The Ring rankings and the unbeaten Mexican represents a unique, difficult challenge for any featherweight.

In January, razor-sharp Bruce Carrington made the most of a showcase spot on the stacked Ring VI card in New York by knocking out Carlos Castro in nine rounds to win the vacant WBC title.

The following month, the relentlessly aggressive Brandon Figueroa revived his career by knocking out Nick Ball to win the WBA belt while IBF champion Angelo Leo may be one of the most underrated fighters in world boxing.

Conlan is currently manoeuvring his way through the WBC rankings but isn’t limiting his options.

“Listen, you’ve gotta look towards everybody, no matter who they are,” he said.

“All the champions in the division, I don't mind fighting any of them. I want to be a world champion so - to be a world champion - you’ve gotta beat these type of guys.

“The Figueroa one’s there. Obviously, I’m going down the WBC route at the minute and I like the Carrington fight too. They’re fights that I’d love to have and if I can get the opportunity to face either of them, happy days.”