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Michael Conlan faces a defining chapter as his world title dream remains alive

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Michael Conlan faces defining chapter as world title dream remains alive

Michael Conlan may be approaching the end of his career, but the Irishman’s fierce desire to win the world title has not waned in the slightest.

Defeats to Leigh Wood and Luis Alberto Lopez in 2022 and 2023 respectively prevented him from playing, which many believed was almost a foregone conclusion.

He finally entered the professional game in 2017 with a grave point to prove as he received a penalty a truly glaring defeat against Vladimir Nikitin at the Olympic Games in Rio.

However, almost a decade later, Conlan has yet to realize his ultimate ambitions, but he believes a third blow at world honors will soon come.

Meanwhile, the 34-year-old needs to stay in the win column against Kevin Walsh, which he is preparing for next Friday at the SSE Arena in Belfast.

In an interview with Conlan, he said he had been preparing for this opportunity since tardy last year, mostly training away from home.

“I have been training for this fight since mid-December, although I had a holiday over Christmas, but I still trained while I was away.

“I think that says a lot about my dedication to boxing. If I wanted to be indolent and half-crazy and I was just doing it for the money, I could train at home with random trainers.

“But I’m really enjoying it here in Sheffield with Grant Smith. I feel like I’m still learning and improving, even though I’ve been boxing for 27 years. You don’t stop learning the game.”

As for his next opponent, Conlan knows he faces a tougher opponent – and that will certainly be the case if he fights for another world title – but he also feels that at this stage of his career he simply cannot afford to take his eyes off the ball.

“It’s a risky fight because [Walsh] is rather unknown. He has a winning record, appears to be a demanding hitter and loves to trade.

“If you lose to him, people will laugh at you. But who cares? It’s a fight that raises my ranking and puts me in a position to fight for the WBC world title.

“So that’s why I took it. It might be a banana peel, but I’ll make sure it isn’t.”

The WBC featherweight title clearly appeals to Conlan more than a potential rematch with Wood, who the Belfast fighter said looked “very aged” after winning a unanimous decision over Josh Warrington last month.

On the other hand, someone who is just entering his prime is Bruce Carrington, who won his green and gold belt in January with an emphatic ninth-round victory over Carlos Castro.

“I think Bruce is a very good fighter – very talented, very skillful, very explosive, has power and a good boxing IQ. It’s a tough fight, but I believe I can win it.

“It would be nice [to rematch Wood] at some stage, but right now my only focus is on winning the world title.

“After that, who knows? Maybe I’ll sing a swan song against Leigh if he’s still here at this stage.”

It’s demanding to say whether he will ultimately rematch Wood, but at the moment Conlan’s thoughts are firmly on a possible shot at Carrington.

But even then, will the wily technician really be content with his story if it doesn’t include a world title?

“I thought about this question a lot. Have I done what I wanted to do in professional boxing? If I don’t win a world title, then no, I didn’t do it.

“Will I feel like it was a waste of time? No, because it gave my family a better life. But will I feel like I didn’t accomplish much? Yes, definitely.”

In reality, Conlan has had a career that most can only dream of, but time will tell if he walks away from the sport with all the boxes ticked.

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David Morrell says a career doesn’t end after a KO defeat

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Image: David Morrell Says Career Isn’t Over After Zak Chelli Knockout

David Morrell says his career isn’t over after his knockout loss to Zak Chelli last Saturday in England, but questions are already being raised about whether Morrell should return to 168 pounds after another tough run at lithe heavyweight.

Morrell was stopped in the 10th and final round after a competitive bout on the Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois heavyweight undercard. The defeat was Morrell’s second defeat in his last three fights following a decision loss to David Benavidez in February 2025.


“This doesn’t mean David Morrell’s career is over,” Morrell said on the I shownstagram. We must take this as a lesson and move on with greater strength.

“We’ll be back soon and we’ll have more news for you.”

Morrell also assured fans that he was recovering quickly from the knockout.

“For those who are worried: thank God, I am well and robust.

“A person is not measured by the number of times he falls, but by the number of times he gets up.

“This is the beginning of a fresh stage, not the end of the race.”

The loss to Chelli increased criticism of Morrell’s move to 175 pounds. Since moving up from super middleweight in August 2024, Morrell entered 2025 undefeated, but has now lost two of his last three fights since moving up to lithe heavyweight.

Morrell dropped a split decision victory over previously undefeated Imam Khataev last July before losing to David Benavidez and being stopped by Zak Chelli.

Boxing analyst Chris Mannix was among those who suggested Morrell may need to rebuild at super middleweight after the defeat.

The 28-year-old Cuban currently has a record of 12-2 with nine knockouts, having entered 2025 undefeated and viewed as one of the most perilous newborn fighters in boxing.

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Last update: 2026/05/14 at 23:49

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Coach Terence Crawford BoMac admits that one of the players “had his number”: “We had to take it away”

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Terence Crawford trainer BoMac admits one fighter ‘had his number’: “We had to pick it up”

Terence Crawford has faced select top-class players throughout his career, but there was one player who coach Brian “BoMac” McIntyre deemed a real threat to his protégé’s dominance.

As the undisputed champion of three divisions, it’s safe and sound to say that “Bud” never shied away from a formidable challenge, even if it meant putting himself at a significant disadvantage.

His fight with Canelo Alvarez, for example, saw the extraordinary technician move up two weight classes and dethroned the Mexican with a remarkable unanimous decision victory last September.

Similarly, many felt that Crawford was clearly the underdog before us his fight with Errol Spence Jr. in 2023only to score a ruthless ninth-round finish and unify all four major welterweight titles.

But according to longtime head coach “BoMac,” Crawford came closest to his only professional loss in 2019, six years before he retired from the sport.

The American was then defending his WBO welterweight title against Egidijus Kavaliauskas, also known as “Mean Machine”, who was not only undefeated, but also boasted an impressive knockout to victory ratio.

I’m talking to Podcast on the front pageMcIntyre credited Kavaliauskas with forcing Crawford to change his tactics after the third round, when “Bud” jumped out of the ring after being deemed a no-knockdown.

“That motherfucker just kept coming and coming. He didn’t stop. For the first few rounds, he only had Bud’s number because he was punching before Bud and punching after Bud.

“It was like, ‘Damn, dog – you [Crawford] I have to pick it up.”

Ultimately, Crawford managed to secure a ninth-round victory over Kavaliauskas, but he had to dig deep into his tool bag to win. The record-breaking star later said that “Mean Machine” was one of the hardest hits he had ever faced.

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Shakur Wants to ‘Get Eight Pounds’

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Image: J Prince Says Shakur Stevenson Willing To “Take Eight Pounds” For Devin Haney

“Well, you never know. You know what I mean? I think he can make that weight if he wants to,” Prince told Fighthype about the fight between Shakur and Haney.

“But like I told him, Shakur weighs 135 pounds. They weigh 147. So out of 12 pounds, we’re willing to take eight. We’re not even saying we’ll meet halfway.”

“So you never know. I don’t count them because certain numbers often change a person’s mind, right? You never know.”

Prince also said there are ongoing discussions about Stevenson fighting next after recently winning the WBO 140-pound welterweight title.

“It’s up in the air. We’re regrouping. We’re planning again and people will know about it very soon,” Prince said.

Shakur moved up earlier this year and defeated Teofimo Lopez to win the WBO 140-pound title. Stevenson already held titles in three weight classes before moving up to 140.

Haney continued competing at welterweight after moving up from 140 pounds following fights against Ryan Garcia, Brian Norman Jr. and Mario Barrios.

Prince also mentioned undefeated lightweight title challenger Abdullah Mason, who returns to his hometown of Cleveland this month.

“I’m excited, first of all, that Abdullah Mason is fighting at home,” Prince said.

“I have a long history with Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, the entire Midwest was one of the first to embrace my Rap-A-Lot movement.

“They should be really proud of their child.”

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