Wayne McCullough admits he isn't surprised to see Michael Conlan prolong his career, admitting: "You are a long time retired."
Conlan admitted he briefly considered hanging up the gloves after suffering a devastating world title defeat to Luis Alberto Lopez last month.
The 31-year-old says he came close to quitting the sport in the immediate aftermath of that loss on May 27. But now he insists he will "100 per cent" be back for another shot at glory.
Read more: Michael Conlan confirms decision on future as he reflects on Lopez loss
Former WBC bantamweight world champ McCullough had his last professional fight when he was 37, but his career stalled in 2000 after the Shankill native failed a brain scan and had his licence temporarily revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control.
He didn't fight again until 2002, delaying his chances of fighting for another world title.
McCullough appreciates the value of time for any boxer, and he can understand why Conlan still believes he has enough fight to challenge for major honours once again.
He said: "All boxers say they will be retired before the age of 30, but we keep going. You will have seen it with many boxers over the years, it is hard to walk away.
"When I hit 30 I got the brain scan issue which stalled my career. But it could have been my last hurrah.
"I had just fought Erik Morales the year before and was number one in the world. I was 29, Morales moved up in weight, so I stayed number one in the WBC.
"When the brain scan happened in October 2000, my next fight was going to be for the world title again. And that was all taken away from me.
"It is something I don't want to get into again, but that was the prime of my career taken away from me. I wanted to get out of boxing at that time after another world title, but then things stalled and it wasn't until 2002 that I fought again."
Conlan has now lost out in two world title fights, firstly to Leigh Wood and then Lopez.
Despite the double setback, McCullough believes the Falls Road fighter can "come again".
He added: "There was talk of Conlan potentially retiring if he had beaten Lopez and won the world title, but I didn't believe that. I always thought if he had beaten Lopez then he could have defended the title in his home city of Belfast and then Dublin where he fought most of his amateur career.
"Unfortunately it didn't work out against Lopez, but Michael is only 31 and can come again. With a few tweaks and improvements he can get back into contention.
"He wouldn't want his career to end on that note, but he is at the stage of his career where he needs to make the right choices and decisions. And he needs his team to do the same.
"Michael is the type of boxer I'd love to work with. The same with Katie Taylor who recently suffered her first pro loss.
"I love to see Irish fighters do well and I will help them any way I can. I wish them well in whatever they do next.
"I enjoy following their careers, like I do every Irish fighter."
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