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Michael Conlan, a two-time Olympian, plans to retire after the defeat

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BELFAST, Northern Ireland – Irish boxer Michael Conlan, who famously gestured with his middle fingers at judges at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, said he plans to retire without fulfilling his dream of becoming a world champion.

The 34-year-old featherweight from Belfast lost on Friday night by split decision after 10 rounds to undefeated Kevin Walsh.

Conlan, the favorite, was hoping that a victory would give him a shot at WBC featherweight champion Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington.

“I want to leave now with my health intact and my family well. I did really well in boxing,” a bruised Conlan told reporters with his wife and two children sitting next to him.

“I’ve achieved an awful lot. Have I achieved my goal of becoming the world champion? No. That’s the hardest part of it all.”

One judge scored the fight 97-93 for Conlan (20-4), while the other two scored it 96-94 for Walsh (20-0), a native of Brockton – the same Massachusetts town that produced Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

“I always said that the next defeat – no matter the situation or the circumstances – would mean the end of boxing, and it did,” Conlan said.

“I thought I won, but listen, that’s what it is. I don’t want to do this anymore. It’s time to say goodbye to boxing.”

Conlan fought for the 2023 IBF featherweight world title, losing in the fifth round to Luis Alberto Lopez.

Conlan won a bronze medal for Ireland at the 2012 London Olympics and three years later became amateur world champion, but in 2016 he made headlines at the Rio Games when he lost in the bantamweight quarterfinals by split decision to Russia’s Vladimir Nikitin.

Following the defeat, Conlan went on a profanity-laced tirade on live television, including raising his middle finger as he stood before the judges.

In 2021, an investigator appointed by the International Boxing Association found that boxing medal fights at the 2016 Games were fixed by “complicit and compliant” judges and judges. The report did not provide a verdict on whether the outcome of the Conlan-Nikitin fight had been determined.

In the professional rankings, Conlan defeated Nikitin by unanimous decision in 2019.

“I did really well, but I never achieved my goal of becoming world champion,” Conlan said Saturday. “It’s a relief. Now I can spend time with my family…

“It just wasn’t supposed to be that way, that’s all.”

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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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