Michael Conlan has failed in his bid to win the IBF featherweight title as he was ruthlessly stopped by champion Luis Alberto Lopez in five rounds.
Having been stopped in the final minutes when leading Leigh Wood on the scorecards 14 months ago, the Northern Irishman had been hoping that a return to Belfast would aid his quest to win a world crown.
However, in a highly entertaining clash, Conlan could not withstand the relentlessness and power of his Mexican opponent, who delivered a conclusive stoppage that saw Conlan's trainer Adam Booth immediately throw in the towel.
From the first bell, both fighters looked sharp as they bid to gain respect from the other, and there was an argument that Conlan took the opening round despite being on the receiving end of spiteful punches.
Nevertheless, it did not take long for Lopez's unorthodox, yet brutal, style to take effect, the champion constantly landing thudding body punches that were evidently taking their toll.
BUILT DIFFERENT 🇲🇽
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) May 27, 2023
Luis Alberto Lopez with a sensational display in Belfast 🏆#LopezConlan pic.twitter.com/ILZWkPWrnm
There were times in rounds three, four and five where Conlan was able to land, more in defiance that Lopez ever looking particularly troubled.
That said, Lopez always came back with something more punishing, and although Conlan was able to survive a sustained assault in an earlier round, the finish came in round five.
Conlan, looking increasingly fatigued, had begun to fire back but he crumpled to the canvas after Lopez connected with an upper-cut, the former successful Olympian barely on the mat when Booth threw in the towel.
While Conlan was able to get to his feet after receiving several minutes of medical treatment, he will now be left with decisions to make regarding his time in the professional ranks, this setback far more notable than when he lost to Wood in March 2022.
