Michael Conlan will fight for the EBU European featherweight title next after making a winning return to the ring on Friday night. The Belfast boxer brushed off some ring rust to outclass game opponent Asad Asif Khan at Brighton Centre.

Referee Bob Williams scored it 78-74 in Conlan's favour, teeing up a shot at the European title against champion Cristobal Lorente.

Friday night was Conlan's first fight in 461 days, since his devastating loss to Jordan Gill in December 2023. The 33-year-old almost called time on his career, but now he's back and targeting titles.

"It is the first time in my life I wasn't nervous, but that made it even harder. That's the longest I have been out of the ring," Conlan said.

"I am still not fully there yet, but it is the first step in getting back to the best Michael Conlan. Things started to flow as the fight went on. I started to relax. I was probably too eager at the start.

"He had a tough head and I hurt my left hand. But we got the job done."

Conlan eased himself into the fight, switching between orthodox and southpaw throughout the eight rounds.

He took some time to find a groove, with Khan proving a durable opponent for the Falls Road man's eagerly anticipated ring return.