Michael Conlan's promoter Kalle Sauerland believes the Belfast featherweight can break into the top three of the WBC's featherweight rankings with a win over Kevin Walsh on Friday.

Conlan returns to the SSE Arena for the first time since his defeat by Jordan Gill in December 2023 when he takes on the undefeated American this week.

Sauerland is confident there is a path to a world title if the Belfast boxer is victorious with WBC champion Bruce Carrington in their sights, suggesting Conlan's pulling power a major asset when it comes to securing big fights.

A victory over Jack Bateson for the WBC International featherweight title – which is on the line this week – saw him break into the top 15 and they hope that ascent continues against Walsh.

"He's number nine [with the WBC] and I think we can get him into the top three if he wins as he's fighting an unbeaten American, a live opponent with his own ambitions," Sauerland told BBC Sport NI.

"Because he's a ticket pull, his route to a world title is much easier as you have champions who may not be a draw and Mick fills arenas.

"'Shu Shu' (Bruce) Carrington is the one we have identified. He's a good draw, but to sell out the Garden (you need a big name).

"We have that in the background, but I'm confident if we get past 20 March we have a good chance to have a world title next."

Conlan is here for the title and not the cash

Conlan teamed up with Kalle and Nisse Sauerland's Wasserman Boxing – since rebranded MF Pro – for his return to the sport last year after taking a 15-month hiatus in the wake of the Gill defeat.

Sauerland applauded Conlan's decision to make a low-key return against Asad Asif Khan on the undercard of Harlem Eubank v Tyrone McKenna in Brighton last March.

"When you sign him, the first thing you think is it Belfast, Dublin or New York?

"He said he didn't want to be main event and will take less money to be as a co-feature to take the pressure off with a new trainer. That's when you realise as a promoter you're dealing with someone who knows what he's doing.

"That's exactly what he needed, he got the rust off and wanted to be out there away from the limelight to do his thing with Grant [Smith] in his corner.

"He turned down money to do that, so it tells me he's not just in this for a quick buck at the end of his career but wants that world title."

Sauerland has been a long-time admired of Conlan and was delighted to capture the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist's signature in 2025.

The Belfast man retains a high profile despite falling short in world title bids against Leigh Wood in 2022 and Luis Alberto Lopez the following year and his promoter feels it "is a mystery" Conlan hasn't added a professional world title to his 2015 world amateur gold medal.

"I've followed him for a long time and this chapter for him is the most important one – every fight is massive," he stressed.

"When you think he hasn't won a world title, it doesn't feel real.

"He's got all the skills, is from a boxing family, got robbed of the [2016 Olympics] gold medal so we know how good a fighter he is.

"He's come within 90 seconds of a world title [against Wood] but how he hasn't become a world champion is a mystery."