Michael Conlan falls short again in split loss to Kevin Walsh

Close fight decided by activity and pressure over ten rounds

Kevin Walsh defeated Michael Conlan by split decision over ten rounds in Belfast, with scores of 96-94 twice for Walsh and 97-93 for Conlan. The crowd disagreed with the verdict, but the rounds themselves were close enough that Conlan never created the kind of separation a favorite is supposed to produce.

The 34-year-old former Irish amateur standout entered the fight with a 2-2 record across his last four outings, and that recent run showed in the way he carried himself. He looked hesitant for long stretches, reluctant to let his hands go, and too aware of what could happen if he opened up.

“It was a close fight, but I got it done. It’s my time,” he said after, and his approach reflected that attitude from the start.

Conlan worked in his usual measured style early, touching with the right and setting up the left, but the intent felt cautious. When he was marked up in the second round after taking right hands, the tempo dipped further, and he began checking in with his corner instead of building control. The accuracy was there in flashes, yet the volume never followed.

Walsh filled that space. He stayed on the front foot, mixed his attacks, and kept throwing even when the shots weren’t always clean. It was not that Walsh looked especially sharp or dominant, but he was active, willing, and consistent. Conlan, by comparison, never looked settled or fully committed to taking the fight.

The last round summed it up. Walsh went after it, increasing his output and forcing exchanges. Conlan stayed conservative, relying on position rather than activity. In a fight with little between them, that difference carried weight.

This was positioned as a chance for Conlan to steady himself after losses to Leigh Wood, Luis Alberto Lopez, and Jordan Gill. Instead, it added another setback, this time against an opponent without a track record at this level.

At this stage, it is difficult to make a case for him returning to title contention.