Conlan (20-3, 10 KOs) built his style on poise, ring IQ and straight punching. He reads the main hand, keeps his guard compact and shoots down counters with precision.
“I can’t wait to get back to Belfast to fight, on this last run towards a world title.”
It sounds like a warrior measuring what remains.
Walsh (19-0, 10 KOs) comes out with a steady work rate. He distances, lets his hands go into combinations, and looks to stay close where he can work the body and stop a man from settling.
“On March 20, I’ll come quickly to ring Micky’s bell!”
He will look to step in early, land the right hand behind the jab and keep Conlan from getting comfortable. If he can push him back, the fight gets tougher with each round.
Conlan knows what’s coming.
“I’m ready and excited, but know I’m up against a very tough opponent in Kevin Walsh, who promises to bring the heat.”
He needs to keep the fight at his distance, firing straight shots up the middle and tying up Walsh when he comes inside. When he gets back on the ropes, Walsh will start throwing combinations and working the ribs.
Walsh kept it simple.
“I’m ready to play 20-0.”
Conlan still has the tools. He can set the pace with his jab, pick clean counters and take rounds if his legs respond. If they don’t, Walsh will continue to push and force him into exchanges he no longer wants.
Michael Conlan opens for WBC featherweight champion Bruce Carrington in New York. Conlan spoke about what could come next in an interview with Boxing Social.
“Listen, I know Bruce,” Conlan said. “Bruce is a really nice guy. I’ve known him since he was in training camp in Ireland. My dad was the coach at the time, and he was in Belfast training. So I met him there, and he was a really lovely kid. And a really good fighter, a really good champion, someone I’d love to take on.”
It only comes into play when he deals with Walsh.
“You can look at it and go there’s a 100 percent possibility of that happening,” Conlan said. “And possibly next, or the fight after that. Who knows? At the same time, I have a job ahead of me, and I have to do it first. If I don’t look in shape, I don’t look good here, maybe it doesn’t happen next. But I will, and I will go do my job and look good doing it.”
