Split Decision Boxing logo – bold “SD” monogram in black

Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh

Conlan V Walsh Undercard, Where to Watch & Full Preview:

Updated 5 March 2026, 12:00 GMT

Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh takes place on Friday, 20 March 2026 at the SSE Arena in Belfast. Conlan (20-3, 10 KOs) makes the first defence of his WBC International Featherweight title against unbeaten American Kevin “King” Walsh (19-0, 10 KOs), who has stopped five of his last seven opponents and arrives promising to beat Conlan on his home turf.

 

The card is live and exclusive on DAZN, with the broadcast starting at 5:00 PM GMT on Friday, 20 March. Main event ringwalks are expected at approximately 10:00 PM GMT. DAZN requires a subscription in the UK. 

 

Conlan has said this could be his last fight in Belfast. In an interview with The Irish News Conlan stated “It’s the last run. If I was to lose again that would be me saying goodbye to boxing.” Walsh has made it clear he is travelling to finish Conlan’s career.

Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh fight poster ahead of their featherweight bout in Belfast

UK Fight Time & Details for Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh

  • Date: Friday, 20 March 2026
  • Venue: SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • UK broadcast start: 5:00 PM GMT on DAZN
  • Main event ringwalks UK: Approximately 10:00 PM GMT
  • Belts at stake: WBC International Featherweight Title (Conlan)
  • Promotion: MF Pro

Conlan vs Walsh complete fight card

  • Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh — WBC International Featherweight Title
  • Kieran Molloy vs Xavier Kohlen — Welterweight
  • Niall Brown vs Darren Johnstone — Super-Middleweight
  • Glenn Byrne vs Owen O’Neill — Super-Welterweight
  • Codie Smith vs Lee Gormley — Super-Featherweight
  • Jak Corrie vs Jacob Quinn — Super-Welterweight

Michael Conlan Tale of the Tape and Recent Form:

  • W TKO4 vs Jack Bateson — WBC International Featherweight Title
  • W PTS8 vs Asad Asif Khan
  • L TKO7 vs Jordan Gill
  • L KO5 vs Luis Alberto Lopez — IBF World Featherweight Title
  • W KO1 vs Karim Guerfi

 

  • Nationality: Irish (Northern Ireland)
  • Age: 34
  • Height: 5′ 8″
  • Reach: 69″
  • Total fights: 23
  • Record: 20-3 (10 KOs)

Conlan is one of the most recognisable figures in Irish boxing — a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist whose amateur career was defined by the notorious robbery against Vladimir Nikitin in Rio that sent him into the professional ranks. As a pro he has twice fallen short at world level against Leigh Wood and Luis Alberto Lopez. Another loss against Gill in December 2023, he was stopped at home as a heavy favourite and was the hardest to take. He has since rebuilt with two wins, including the Bateson TKO in Dublin that handed him the WBC International belt last September. The honest concern heading into this fight is his chin, all three pro losses came by stoppage and Walsh is arriving specifically to test it.

 

Kevin Walsh Tale of the Tape and Recent Form:

  • W UD vs Jose Nunez Sosa
  • W SD vs Tramaine Williams — WBC US Silver Featherweight Title
  • W TKO8 vs Ricky De Los Santos — WBC USA Silver Featherweight Title
  • W TKO4 vs Irvin Gonzalez — New England Super-Featherweight Title

 

  • Nationality: American
  • Age: 33
  • Height: 5′ 7″
  • Reach: 65″
  • Total fights: 19
  • Record: 19-0 (10 KOs)

Walsh is from Brockton, Massachusetts, the city that produced Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, and he carries that identity into everything he does. He turned professional in 2021, a late start, but has built steadily and is one of the most credible opponents Conlan has faced since his rebuild began. Five stoppages in his last seven fights shows real finishing power. The honest caveat is that his 19 opponents carry combined records that do not shout elite-level. 

Michael Conlan celebrating victory during a professional boxing fight

The Split Decision’s Prediction

Conlan’s range, technical ability, and the ferocity of a Belfast homecoming crowd are all working in his favour. If he boxes behind the jab and keeps his composure when Walsh inevitably tries to rough it up on the inside, this should be a points win. The chin question keeps it from being a certainty. Walsh gives up an inch in height and four inches in reach to Conlan, both fighters are orthodox, and the range mismatch will be a factor from the first bell. To win, Walsh needs to get inside that jab early, make it uncomfortable in close, and either wear Conlan down over the rounds or find the chin that has been stopped three times before. Split Decision backs Conlan to win by unanimous decision.

© Split-Decision.co.uk — all rights reserved.

Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh F.A.Q.

Main event ringwalks are expected at approximately 10:00 PM GMT on Friday, 20 March 2026. The DAZN broadcast gets underway from 5:00 PM GMT, with the full undercard airing before the main event.

Conlan’s WBC International Featherweight title is on the line. It is a secondary belt rather than a full world title, but it carries WBC ranking points and is a stepping stone towards Conlan’s stated goal of a third world title shot.

Walsh is a 33-year-old unbeaten featherweight from Brockton, Massachusetts — hometown of Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. He turned professional in 2021 and has gone 19-0 with 10 stoppages, most recently beating New England rival Tramaine Williams by split decision. Before this fight was announced, Walsh was publicly calling out WBA world champion Nick Ball — which tells you everything about his confidence level heading to Belfast.