Michael Conlan Celebrates Christmas Early with a Quick KO of Karim Guerfi

“The Fighting Pride of Belfast and all of Ireland,” said the ring announcer as he introduced Michael Conlan to his fans inside Belfast’s SSE Arena. Moments later, the ring announcer was back behind the microphone, sharing the official time of the stoppage: 2:34 of round one.

It was a fusillade of punches that sent Conlan’s opponent Karim Guerfi (31-7) sagging to the canvas after Conlan backed him into the ropes. Guerfi beat the count, but then did a Trevor Berbick impression and referee Steve Gray sensibly waived it off.

This was the second fight back for Conlan (18-1 9 KOs) after suffering his lone defeat in a March barnburner with defending WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood. As for Guerfi, a 35-year-old Frenchman who began his career as a flyweight, he needs to give serious consideration to retiring as his punch resistance appears to be shot, an ominous sign. Last year he was stopped in the opening frame by Lee McGregor and earlier this year he suffered a ninth-round, one-punch KO at the hands of Jordan Gill in a fight that he was handily winning.

Conlan plans to return on Saint Patrick’s Day either at this arena or at Madison Square Garden (his people say they have booked both arenas to ensure that one will be available) for a second crack at a world title. The best-case scenario for Conlan’s promoter Top Rank would be a match with Luis Alberto Lopez, conditional on Lopez upsetting Josh Warrington when they meet a bit later today in Leeds.

Other Bouts of Note

Sean McComb a rangy, 30-year-old Belfast southpaw. improved to 15-1 and picked up a regional super lightweight belt with a monotonously one-sided 10-round decision over Slovakian import Zsolt Osadan. McComb won every round on all three cards.

McComb puts his combinations together nicely, but his punches carry no steam as indicated by the fact that he has scored only five wins inside the distance. Osadan (24-1-1) came in undefeated, but had defeated only five opponents with winning records.

In a 6-round featherweight contest, Northern Ireland’s Kurt Walker, a 2021 Tokyo Olympian, outpointed Yader Cardoza, advancing to 5-0 (1). Walker pitched a shutout on the referee’s card.

Cardoza, a 33-year-old Nicaraguan who now fights out of Barcelona, had lost a split decision to Michael Conlan’s brother Jamie on a previous visit to Belfast. Ironically, Jamie Conlan happens to be Kurt Walker’s manager.

Three fights fell out including the co-feature between Tyrone McKenna and Liam Taylor for a European welterweight title. Taylor begged off after catching the flu.

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