What a difference a year makes.
Twelve months on from a devastating knockout defeat to Leigh Wood, Belfast boxer Michael Conlan is dreaming of world title glory once again.
The Falls Road man will challenge for the IBF featherweight belt on May 27 when he faces champion Luis Alberto Lopez at the SSE Arena.
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The fight comes one week after Katie Taylor's huge homecoming event in Dublin, in what could be a halcyon week for Irish boxing.
Conlan came within seconds of becoming world champion last March, but was knocked out cold by Wood in the 12th and final round at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.
The 31-year-old believes everything happens for a reason, and is confident he will finally realise a lifelong ambition by becoming world champion in his home city.
He said: "It's massive and I am very excited. I am relaxed and chilled and looking forward to it.
"I have had 19 fights, and the majority of them have been massive events and this is another one.
"Even against Leigh Wood, that was the first time I had half the crowd against me. It was different, and I probably fell into the villain role.
"I was saying "f*** you" to the crowd and things like that. So I know I need to be a bit more chilled, and use the fans as fantastic support.
"I won't let the atmosphere affect me on May 27. I learned plenty of lessons from the Wood fight.
"I was shouting at the crowd during the ring walk, so I was probably too fired up. So I need to control that.
"And also the experiences from that fight, such as pushing when I shouldn't have been pushing. And taking my rest during the fight.
"The pace I fought at in that fight, and trying to take the guy out from the second round on.
"I was putting every single thing on every shot when I didn't need to. I could have picked my shots a bit better and taken him out.
"But those experiences are good, and I am glad they have happened. Now we are here and this is my big chance and I believe I will become world champion on May 27."
Lopez is no stranger to fighting away from home. He travelled to Leeds to claim the IBF belt from Josh Warrington last December.
Conlan doesn't believe the Mexican will hold any fear coming to Belfast.
"I don't think he will be overawed by the atmosphere. He has been to Leeds and stuff, and they are crazy," he said.
"I don't expect it to affect him, and I don't care if it does. I just have to focus on what I do.
"The crowd is definitely an extra man on my shoulder and they can drive me on."
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