Conlan vs Walsh Result: Walsh Wins, Conlan Retires

Conlan V Walsh: Result, Undercard & Reaction

Updated 21 March 2026, 12:00 GMT

This fight is now over, check out our fight schedule to see what bouts are coming up next. Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh result: Kevin Walsh beat Michael Conlan by split decision in Belfast on Friday, 20 March 2026, with scorecards of 96-94, 96-94 and 93-97. Conlan announced his retirement after the defeat.

Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh boxing fight poster for the WBC featherweight title – Belfast Ireland 20 March 2026

UK Fight Time & Details for Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh

  • Date: Friday, 20 March 2026
  • Venue: SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • UK broadcast start: 7:00 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
  • Codie Smith vs Lee Gormley — Super-Featherweight
  • Jak Corrie vs Jacob Quinn — Super-Welterweight

Conlan vs Walsh Odds: Who Is Favourite to Win?

Conlan is the clear favourite at approximately 1/5 (-500) with most bookmakers, reflecting his home advantage, superior amateur pedigree, and the fact he holds the belt. Walsh is available at around 3/1 (+300) — a price that respects his unbeaten record but reflects the step up in class and the hostile environment he is walking into.

The odds look about right. Conlan’s three stoppage losses will make some punters think twice, and Walsh’s finishing power gives him a genuine path to the upset, but the bookmakers have priced this as a comfortable Conlan fight and there is not much value on either side at these numbers. If you fancy Walsh, the stoppage line will offer better returns than the outright win — that is realistically the only way he takes this.

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Conlan vs Walsh Tickets

Tickets for Conlan vs Walsh at the SSE Arena are on sale via Ticketmaster. Availability is limited — the card is expected to sell out given Conlan’s Belfast following and the possibility this is his final fight in the city. If tickets are unavailable, the full card is live on DAZN from 5:00 PM GMT.

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. Check our boxing schedule for all upcoming fight dates. 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 vs Kevin Walsh tale of the tape showing age record height reach and stance before their Belfast featherweight fight

The Split Decision’s Prediction

This fight is scheduled for 10 rounds at the featherweight limit of 126 lbs.

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.

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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.