Conlan KO'd after being caught up in a firefight with Mexican Lopez

In trying to out-Mexican a Mexican, the Belfast boxer went against his signalled game plan and against logic too. It cost him heavily

DOWN AND OUT: Luis Alberto Lopez knocks out Michael Conlan in the IBF world featherweight title bout at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Pic: Peter Morrison/PA Wire.

IT was heartbreak for Michael Conlan at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Saturday night as his valiant attempt to dethrone Luis Alberto Lopez of the IBF featherweight title ended in the fifth round.

This was the Belfast man's second crack at professional world honours and possibly his last as there will be a huge road back for the 31-year-old who opened brilliantly, but was hurt badly in the third and this was all the encouragement Lopez needed as he seized the initiative and held onto it.