John Paul Hale turns pro with Michael Conlan as manager

John Paul Hale will make his professional boxing debut at The Devenish in Belfast on Friday 27 November, with former amateur world champion Michael Conlan as his manager.

The 25-year-old will start at welterweight and continue training at Star ABC in north Belfast’s New Lodge. He’ll make his debut at the same venue where Anthony Cacace began his professional career.

Why John Paul Hale chose Michael Conlan

Conlan twice challenged for a world title as a professional, and Hale says that experience is what he values as he makes the switch from amateur boxing.

“It’s class to have him on board because he knows a lot about pro boxing,” Hale told BBC Sport NI.

Hale expects supporters who followed him as an amateur to be there for his debut. He’s happy to build his career in front of a home crowd before looking to bigger bills.

“If I perform, the bigger venues and nights will come,” he said.

Why Hale turned pro after the Commonwealth Games

Hale won the Irish Elite title in 2021 and picked up six Ulster titles during an amateur career that took him to two Commonwealth Games. He had considered turning professional two years earlier and felt the time was right after Glasgow, with the 2028 Olympics no longer a target.

His amateur career ended with an opening-round defeat by England’s Patris Mughalzai in Glasgow. Hale was deducted two points and Mughalzai one. Having beaten Mughalzai before, Hale said he felt the referee’s decisions had taken away his final chance to achieve what he had set out to do as an amateur.

John Paul Hale’s pro debut date, venue and opponent

Fight details	Information
Date	Friday 27 November 2026
Venue	The Devenish, Belfast
Weight class	Welterweight
Opponent and start time	Neither was listed in the BBC Sport NI report