Two-time featherweight world title challenger Michael Conlan has announced his retirement from professional boxing moments after a fourth career defeat to little-known Kevin Walsh last night.
Conlan (20-4, 10 KOs) lost a debatable split decision to the undefeated American at the SSE Arena in his hometown of Belfast. It was his first time returning to the arena since he lost to Jordan Gill in December 2024.
A bruised Conlan spoke to reporters in his dressing room after the fight: “I didn’t think I had lost, but it wasn’t good enough, and that’s the simple fact. I’m 34 now! I thought I had won, but listen, it is what it is.”
Conlan had scored 97-93 on one scorecard, but the two other judges gave Walsh the nod at a closer 96-94.
“I don’t want it no more, and it’s time to say goodbye to boxing,” announced Conlan. “It wasn’t good enough. No matter if it was close or if people thought I won, I didn’t win clearly enough. For me to be a world champion, I need to be beating guys like that and beating them well, but that was a bit too close for comfort. To go out how I went out, it may be controversial or whatever, but it’s just time.”
Representing Ireland at the London 2012 Olympics, Conlan claimed a bronze medal during an accomplished amateur career, which also saw the Irish superstar claim a gold medal at the 2015 World Amateur Championship in Doha. After turning professional with Bob Arum’s Top Rank at Madison Square Garden in 2017, Conlan struggled to replicate his form in the professional ranks. The Belfast native lost in two world title attempts against Leigh Wood and Luis Alberto Lopez, both by knockout.
Conlan added: “I always say, ‘never love the sport, because it will never love you back.’ I am going to walk away now with my health intact, my family good. I’ve done really well in boxing. I reached some serious heights, I’ve done some serious arenas and some serious places around the world. I’ve done things a lot of fighters will never get to do.
“Did I reach my goal of becoming a world champion? No. That’s the hardest part of it all, that I didn’t reach my goal. With me being a stubborn person, I want to keep going to do it, but I have missed a lot of my family’s lives. It’s time to go home. My two kids, my daughter turns 11 next week, my son is seven—and I’ve missed probably 60 to 70 percent of their lives because of boxing and training camps. It’s time to move back and time to go home.”
Conlan announces his retirement following nine years as a professional at 34 years old.
