Belfast boxer John Paul Hale sets 27 November date for pro debut under Michael Conlan
The 25-year-old former amateur champion will fight at The Devenish in north Belfast after a disappointing exit at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
By Amina Yusuf ·
John Paul Hale will make his professional boxing debut on 27 November at The Devenish in north Belfast. The 25-year-old fighter is transitioning to the paid ranks under the management of Michael Conlan, a former amateur world champion and two-time professional title challenger.
Hale’s amateur career included an Irish Elite title in 2021 and six Ulster championships. He competed at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and again this summer in Glasgow. He did not return with a medal, losing in the opening round to England’s Patris Mughalzai. The referee docked Hale two points in the final count, a result that left the Belfast native frustrated.
The decision to leave the amateur circuit followed that loss in July. Hale told BBC Sport NI that he was not upset with his own performance because he had beaten Mughalzai before and knew the work he had put in. He felt the referee allowed his opponent to hold without issuing sufficient warnings. "It was upsetting because deep down, I knew it was my last opportunity to accomplish what I set out to do as an amateur," Hale said.
Hale expressed doubt that administrative changes in the sport have altered judging standards. World Boxing, which has received approval from the International Olympic Committee, oversaw the Glasgow Games. Hale believes judges still favor aggressive styles and that elite fighters with different techniques remain disadvantaged. "I don't feel it has changed even though there has been the transition to World Boxing," he said.
Despite considering a bid for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Hale decided against staying in the amateur division. He previously considered turning professional two years ago but wanted to finish his amateur career without regrets. Conlan will guide Hale’s new career, a role the manager accepted after his own well-known dispute with officials during his 2016 Olympic bout in Rio.
Hale will compete at welterweight for his first professional fight. He will remain based at Star ABC in the New Lodge area of Belfast. The Devenish venue has hosted professional debuts for other notable boxers, including Anthony Cacace, the current world super-featherweight champion, and James Tennyson, a former world title challenger.
Hale plans to build his record gradually rather than jumping into large events immediately. "I would rather start from the bottom as I like to be a bit of an underdog and build myself up," he said. He noted that many fans who followed his amateur career will attend the November 27 fight to watch him begin his professional journey.
