By Boxing Bob Newman
Unheralded Kevin Walsh upset big odds in enemy territory to squeak past former Olympian and two-time title Challenger Michael “Mick” Conlan tonight in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Walsh started out confidently against a tentative Conlan in the first two rounds. Conlan seemed off balance and unsure of himself in the early going. He fought mostly out of the Southpaw stance but would occasionally switch to Orthodox.
A clash of heads left Conlan with a cut dead center on his forehead which left a ribbon of blood streaming down his face for the last eight-and-a-half rounds. In the fifth, another cut opened on the right eyelid of Conlan.
The fight devolved into a unpleasing, feint fest, neither man willing to take the initiative. What little determined offense there was, came from Walsh, but it was far and few between.
Walsh made a definitive, offensive effort in the final round, charging Conlan and bullying him against the ropes with a flurry of punches- some landing cleanly, others on the shoulders and gloves.
In the end, the judges saw it as follows: 97-93 Conlan and 96-94 twice for Walsh, now the WBC International featherweight champion. Walsh improves to 20-0, KOs, 10 while Conlan falls to 20-4, 10 KOs.
Had Conlan one, there were whispers that he would get a world title shot against newly minted WBC champ Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington. With the victory, Walsh wasted no time calling out Carrington for that same shot.
It appeared as Conlan was walking to his dressing room, he mouthed to those around him, “That’s it,” perhaps signaling the end of his professional career.
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