IBF Featherweight World title: Michael Conlan lost to Luis Alberto Lopez TKO5
MICHAEL Conlan fell short in his bid to win the IBF featherweight title. The Belfast fighter was hurt in the third round and although he battled into the fifth he was always hanging on from that point. The end came when he was floored by a Lopez right hook and the towel came in from his corner.
Round One: Conlan boxing southpaw as usual. Lands a right hand on the chin as Lopez misses with a left hook. Mexican a little wild as Conlan boxes and pivots on the back foot. Three right hands find target but Conlan takes one himself. Goes to the body in the closing stages – got a little greedy and was tagged again. Conlan 10 Lopez 9
Round Two: Conlan jabs and slips two Lopez bombs. Mexican steps in with a thudding right hand. Conlan takes it well and comes firing back. His movement is sharp and he drives Lopez into the ropes. Venom on his shots. Close round. 10-9
Round Three: Conlan targeting the body of Lopez but he’s in serious danger when he stays in the pocket and Lopez tags him with a brutal uppercut that sends him staggering back into a neutral corner. Did well to see out the final minute. 9-10
Round Four: One-two from Lopez who then steps in with another thunderbolt right hand. Conlan cracks his head back with a left hook but the Mexican looking too quick and dangerous with every shot. Conlan hanging on as the round ends. 9-10
Round Five: Lopez looking fresh, Conlan obviously struggling. The fighters go head-to-head and Conlan gambles on an all-out assault. He lands two booming shots but Lopez counters with a right hand and the Belfast man goes down. The towel comes in from his corner as he hits the canvas.
Earlier, Anthony Cacace successfully defending his IBO super-featherweight title with a unanimous decision win against Poland's Damian Wrzesinski. Afterwards Cacace called out IBF champion Joe Cordina.
Meanwhile, Kurt Walker scored a shut-out points win over Maicol Velazco, Nick Ball overcame brave South African Ludumo Lamati and Dublin's Pierce O'Leary needed just one minute and 11 seconds to knockout Alin Florin Ciorceri and defend his WBC International Super-lightweight title.
At super-flyweight, Conor Quinn overcame a determined challenge from Juan Hinostroza over eight rounds and there were wins for lightweights William Hayden and Callum Thompson.
After the main event, Pody McCrory was a points winner against Argentina's Diego Ramirez. Referee Hugh Russell scored the contest 99-91 for 'The Hammer' who is now 17-0.
Middleweight Fearghus Quinn, cheered on by an enthusiastic band of loyal supporters, somehow managed to put his midnight slot to one side and produced a high-tempo display that was too much for Ruben Angulo. Quinn is now 6-0.
In the final act of the night there was a winning debut for former Armagh footballer James Freeman at middleweight. Up against veteran Jordan Grannum, box/fighter Freeman got a taste of what pro boxing is all about but he shaped up well and deserved his points win.
