Devastation
Lopez showcases his quality at the highest level with victory over Conlan, writes Steve Wellings from ringside
BELFAST
MAY 27 ★★★★★ MAIN EVENT ★★★★★ UNDERCARD ★★★★★ ATMOSPHERE
MICHAEL CONLAN’S ‘world title’ dream was shattered for a second time as he fell under Luis Alberto Lopez’s dynamite fists. The Mexican IBF featherweight belt-holder may bring an unusual style to the ring, but he is devastatingly effective. Slick Mick found that out in the fifth round when a right uppercut left him sprawled on the canvas. Trainer Adam Booth immediately offered a white towel of submission.
Fourteen months ago, in the Nottingham Arena, Michael was ahead when Leigh Wood dramatically knocked him out in a frenetic final round. After regrouping with two strong displays at home, Conlan’s quest for a belt seemed achievable.
Here, in front of a fervent hometown crowd in the SSE Arena, Conlan started confidently, taking centre ring behind his southpaw jab. The unorthodox champion may have been missing at times, but his right hand carried danger. The Falls Road man entered the trenches in round two, looking to gain Lopez’s respect. Fighting hard just to scrape out rounds, Michael’s face displayed early battle scars and Lopez started touching the body. The challenger’s successes were already coming at a price.
Rocking Conlan with a right uppercut in the third, ‘El Venado’ chased after his stricken foe with a menacing grin as Conlan fell into the ropes. Referee Michael Alexander burrowed in for a closer inspection. The Top Rank talent grabbed and grappled to the end of the session. Lopez landed another haymaker in the fourth. Buzzed again, Michael’s guts and fitness, helped by the crowd’s war cries, kept his live status.
Lopez was in full effect in the fifth as he switched downstairs at all the correct times to land some sneakily productive body blows. Operating in top gear just to stay in the fight, Conlan ducked on to a sizzling right uppercut that conclusively closed the show. A world class punch, worthy of ending a world class affair, terminated at 1-14. Unused judges were Terry O’connor, Benoit Roussel and John Mckaie.
Thriving in a career resurgence, the excellent Lopez is now eyeing fights with fellow titlists, and the Mexicali native will be very difficult to beat.
Nick Ball pounded out a 12th-round stoppage in the chief support slot, but the Liverpool puncher’s win came at a cost for his willing South African foe. Moments after Ludumo Lamati’s corner had thrown in the towel, Lamati collapsed and was rushed to hospital.
Ball spent the early going trying to find the right distance to let go with bombs, while Lamati employed a tasty range-finder. Ball was throwing his weight around in the clinches and referee Kevin Parker toiled to keep it clean.
Ball turned southpaw in the fifth. Lamati was going back downstairs by the eighth, but leaving himself open. Mr Parker was back on Ball’s case in round nine, threatening to take a point.
Finally, at the end of round 10, Ball created a breakthrough. Shelling Lamati with left hands, suddenly the 31-year-old looked ragged. Lamati’s resistance swiftly evaporated and his corner recognised his fatigue, ending his challenge at 2-15 of the 12th round.
At press time, Lamati remained in an induced coma. Queenberry Promotions said of Lamati in a tweet on Monday: “He remains in the hospital, receiving the best care possible. The most recent update from the medical team is that his vital signs are stable.”
Lamati remains in the thoughts of all at Boxing News.
Anthony Cacace stayed on track for more big nights after defeating Damian Wrzesinski over 12 rounds. The margins were wide and unanimous, as Terry O’connor (118-111), Jean-robert Laine (117-111) and Mike Fitzgerald (116-112) all found in his favour.
The gifted switch-hitter swayed nonchalantly as light-punching Wrzesinski matched his movement. Cacace went into his shell a little at times and later revealed he had hurt both hands early on. The Belfast man planted his feet in the seventh and let some harder blows go. Wrzesinski offered defiant, two-fisted ripostes, despite blood dripping from the left eye. Michael Alexander refereed.
After winning on cruise control, ‘The Apache’ has his sights set on either Emanuel Navarrete or Joe Cordina.
Dublin’s ‘Big Bang’ Pierce O’leary
sent his fanbase into raptures with a crushing first-round KO over Alin Florin Ciorceri. Barely seconds had passed before O’leary unleashed a left hook that had Florin down. The Romanian tentatively opted to continue. O’learu piled on the pain, and while not everything landed flush, the key shots rocked Florin’s head around enough to persuade Victor Loughlin to intervene at 1-11. Pleased with what he described as a “calm performance”, O’leary seems ready to step up. This was scheduled for 10.
Boxing after the main event Padraig Mccrory defeated Diego Ramirez
over 10 functional rounds. Supermiddleweight Mccrory held a size advantage over a former welterweight. Stalking behind a solid left jab, ‘The Hammer’ worked patiently towards a 99-91 win on Hugh Russell Jnr’s card.
Lisburn’s Kurt Walker enhanced his unbeaten slate with a win over Spanishbased Colombian Maicol Velazco.
Walker bounced in and out on his toes, spraying a solid left jab. Adding some spite to his work as the rounds flashed by, the 2020 Olympian laboured for a stoppage that never arrived. Velazco conceded a 60-54 verdict for Mr Russell.
Belfast’s Conor Quinn got a good eight-round workout from Spanishbased Peruvian Juan Hinostroza.
Quinn boxed neatly behind a long jab. Third man Eamonn Magill awarded ‘The Magnificent’ every session here. Manager Mark Dunlop fancies Quinn against any super-flyweight in the UK.
William Hayden had to endure a few hairy moments while outpointing Durham’s Jordan Ellison. The Dubliner punched with authority as Ellison soaked up the pressure and kept swinging. Hayden was buzzed in round three and suffered a cut over his left eye, but Eamonn Magill totalled 59-55 in his favour.
Kirby’s Callum Thompson opened the evening with a four-round points win over Romania’s Marian Istrate. The Joe Gallagher-trained lightweight won 40-36 on Mr Russell’s card.
Armagh’s James Freeman closed the show with a 39-37 debut win over London journeyman Jordan Grannum. Mr Magill refereed this contest and also Belleek middleweight Fearghus Quinn’s 60-54 shutout of Colombia’s Ruben Angulo.
THE VERDICT Conlan’s future hangs in the balance following a crushing stoppage loss.