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Conlan's World Title Hopes Dashed in Shock Upset
21 Mar
Summary
- Michael Conlan lost a split decision to Kevin Walsh in his hometown.
- Walsh secured the biggest win of his career against the Olympian.
- This defeat is a significant setback for Conlan's title aspirations.
Michael Conlan experienced a stunning upset in his native Belfast, losing a split decision to the previously unbeaten American, Kevin Walsh. The ten-round bout concluded with two judges scoring 96-94 for Walsh, while one judge favored Conlan 97-93. This victory represents the pinnacle of Walsh's career thus far.
Conlan, a decorated Olympian and bronze medalist, had harbored hopes of securing a world title fight following this bout. However, this points loss is a considerable blow, compounded by earlier defeats, including a knockout loss to Leigh Wood in 2022 and a challenge for the IBF featherweight title against Luis Alberto Lopez in 2023, both of which ended in stoppage losses. An earlier defeat to Jordan Gill in 2023 also impacted his career trajectory.
While Conlan had been rebuilding his career, impressing with a knockout win against Jack Bateson last year, this latest result is a major setback. At 34 years old, the focus shifts from pursuing a world championship to potentially reconsidering his future in professional boxing.
