Split decision win moves Walsh toward world title contention

Kevin Walsh (20-0, 10 KOs) defeated Michael Conlan (20-4, 10 KOs) by split decision over ten rounds to win the WBC International featherweight title Saturday night in Belfast. Scores were 96-94 twice for Walsh and 97-93 for Conlan.

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The result places Walsh in position for a move toward world level in the featherweight division.

Walsh placed right hands over Conlan’s lead while finishing exchanges with a left hook. A clash of heads in the opening round left Conlan cut high on the forehead, forcing him to work through blood for the rest of the fight.

Conlan switched stances early, moving between southpaw and orthodox. He found success when he stayed southpaw, using his length to keep Walsh at range and dig to the body when the fight moved inside.

Whenever Conlan switched orthodox, Walsh stepped in behind the right hand and followed with the left hook. Conlan had moments working downstairs, but Walsh’s counters were the cleaner punches in the exchanges.

By the second half of the fight Walsh began letting his hands go more often. He set his feet and threw combinations when Conlan stood in front of him, forcing the Belfast fighter to give ground.

In the eighth round Walsh landed a left hook followed by a right hand during an exchange. A round later he connected with a clean left that checked Conlan’s chin, though he could not extend the moment into a stoppage.

Heading into the final round, Conlan’s corner called for him to stay southpaw. Under pressure, he switched again, and Walsh immediately stepped in and landed a right hand as the fight closed.

Effective aggression and cleaner counters shaped the scoring.

“I was very confident I got the job done,” Walsh said after the fight. “It was a close fight. He’s a hell of a fighter, but I knew I did enough.”

With the win, Walsh moves into the WBC picture at featherweight and called for a shot at champion Bruce Carrington.

“‘Shu Shu!’ Where you at, baby?” Walsh said. “Let’s go. Give me my shot. You’re a hell of a fighter, but it’s my turn.”