Michael Conlan to retire from boxing after split-decision defeat to Kevin Walsh

Conlan will retire with a 20-4 professional record

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026 - 14:04

Darragh Leen

After a split-decision defeat in Friday's WBC International featherweight title bout with American Kevin Walsh, boxer Michael Conlan has decided to hang up the gloves.

The Belfast native had previously promised if he lost another fight he would retire from the sport. After succumbing to a loss after an underwhelming 10 rounds in his home town, he has apparently stuck to his word.

Conlan will retire with a respectable 20-4 professional record.

During the fight the two time Olympian suffered a blow to the eyebrow early on which left a bloody gash. Conlan probed for long periods without landing any significant blows on his fresher American opponent.

After the fight, one judge scored the fight 97-93 to Conlan. However, the other two judges disagreed, both scoring it 96-94 to Walsh.

"I said that the next defeat, no matter the circumstances, would be me finished with boxing and it has come," said a dejected Conlan.

"I didn't think I lost but it wasn't good enough and that's the simple fact. For me to become a world champion I need to be beating guys like that and beating them well. That was too close for comfort.

"[I'm] 34 now. Probably too long in the tooth. I thought I won but listen, it is what it is.

"I don't want to do it no more. It's time to say goodbye to boxing."

Walsh, understandably elated after his triumph, claimed Conlan couldn't figure him out on the night.

"I was very confident I got the job done to be honest.

"It was definitely a close fight, I've always been a fan of (Conlan) but I knew I got the job done. It was hard for him to figure me out honestly.

"He's a hell of a fighter but his time's up baby."