Kevin Walsh defeats Michael Conlan by split decision in Belfast

In the first round, Conlan came out southpaw and followed Walsh around the ring, with little contact until the last minute when they traded. In the second round, Conlan was cut on the forehead from a clash of heads, and Walsh took the round. In the third, Conlan returned to orthodox and finished the round with better hitting. In the final minute of the fourth round, Conlan switched back to southpaw in another close round in which he appeared to have the edge.

In the fifth and sixth rounds, both had their moments, mostly trading moves, with Conlan holding a slight edge. In the seventh, Conlan continued to change stances. Halfway through the round, Walsh may have accidentally kicked Conlan’s leg. It was another close round.

In the eighth round, Conlan was cut on the right eyebrow by a right hand by Walsh, who took the round. The ninth round saw little action until the final minute, when Walsh landed a combination in a close fight.

In the tenth and final round, Walsh came out with a flurry and cornered Conlan. That might have been enough to secure the round, as little from either fighter followed.

The scores were 97-93 Conlan, 96-94 Walsh and 96-94 Walsh.
Referee: Mark Lyson.

In the co-feature, southpaw Kieran Molloy, 14-0 (7), of Galway, Ireland defeated Xavier Kohlen, 15-3-1 (7), of Sittard, Netherlands, over 10 rounds to win the vacant IBF European welterweight title.

Molloy dominated the first two rounds with his jab and occasional left hands to the chin. In the third round’s final seconds, he rocked Kohlen with a left. In the fourth round, Molloy suffered a cut to the bridge of his nose from a clash of heads. In the fifth, Kohlen was cut in a similar fashion.

Kohlen came back to take the sixth and seventh rounds. Molloy regained control in the eighth and ninth. In the final round, Molloy had Kohlen in trouble late with a combination to the body and head.

Scores were 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92.
Referee: John Latham.

At super middleweight, Niall ‘The Power’ Brown, 18-0 (7), of Stockport, UK, stopped Darren Johnstone, 12-2 (3), of Wishaw, Scotland, at 0:44 of the third round of a scheduled 10-round eliminator for the British title.

Johnstone used his jab early, while Brown responded with right hands to the body in the second half of the round. In the third, a left hook followed by a right from Brown dropped Johnstone for an eight count from referee Victor Loughlin. Brown followed up and forced the strike.

Jak ‘Wako Jako’ Corrie, 9-0 (6), of Liverpool, stopped southpaw Jacob Quinn, 8-8-1 (0), of Huddersfield at 2:38 of the second round of a scheduled six rounds.

In the first round’s final minute, Corrie landed a right that drew blood from Quinn’s nose. Early in the second, Corrie dropped Quinn with a right hand for an eight count. Later in the round, Corrie finished the fight with a body punch and right hand combination.

At super lightweight, Ben Marksby, 14-0 (3), of Darlington, stopped Carlos Daniel ‘El Zorrito’ Cordoba, 16-13-1 (4), of Tres Arroyos, Argentina, after four rounds of a scheduled eight.

At the end of the fourth round, Cordoba’s corner stopped the fight.
Referee: Eamonn McGill.

At super featherweight, Code Smith, 9-0-1 (1), of Hull, stopped Lee Gormley, 6-3 (1), of Armagh, at 1:54 of the second round of a scheduled eight rounds, scoring three knockouts.

Smith dropped Gormley three times in the opening round with right hands before the referee waved it off.

At lightweight, Kurt Walker, 13-1 (2), of Lisburn, defeated Yahir ‘El Tyson’ Alexander Solorio Morales, 6-22-5 (2), of Guadalajara, Mexico, over four rounds.

Referee Dominic Conlin scored it 40-36.

At super welterweight, Kyle Smith, 4-0 (1), of Glengormley defeated Eduardo ‘Zurdo’ Vera Sanchez, 2-18-2 (0), of Queretaro, Mexico, over four rounds.

The referee, Hugh Russell Jr., scored it 40-36.

Ring Announcer: Ray Flores.