Michael Conlan loses to Jordan Gill in Belfast
The DAZN fight night as it happened
I was at the Conlan-Gill card in the SSE Arena last night. Here are some brief notes I made with time stamps as the night progressed.
Image and Media Credits: Belfast Media, DAZN, Matchroom Boxing, Bad Left Hook.
Fearghus Quinn Wins Points 6 Angel Emilov
17:30 - MC David Diamante opens the evening by welcoming Fearghus Quinn and Angel Emilov to the ring for the first bout. Rugged Emilov hasn’t been stopped since he lost to Sam Maxwell in 2017. That was in Belfast, as it happens. Quinn will be looking to repeat the trick.
17:45 - Quinn is aggressive and fights like a puncher. Three rounds in and Emilov is soaking up the shots and firing back.
17:47 - Two minutes into the fourth and Quinn’s right eye is bleeding. Hurt to the body, Quinn steps off and sucks up air for a minute.
17:58 - Referee Eamonn Magill scores it 60-54 in favour of southpaw Quinn who lives to fight another day. Emilov may be feeling he did enough to win a round.
Gerard Hughes Draw 57-57 Ruadhan Farrell
18:04 - Two young men enter the ring sporting contrasting body language. Ultra-confident Farrell wears a sombrero while Hughes nervously skulks in for the super-bantamweight affair.
18:13 - Switch-hitting Hughes is growing in stature, slipping Farrell’s right hands, as his face gently reddens. Hughes looks physically fatigued as the round progresses.
18:21 - SecondsOut ace reporter Ayman Khan is ringside to provide cutting-edge analysis in Wellings’ ear for the duration of the early undercard portion. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Hughes’ nose is bleeding as Farrell enjoys fourth-round success.
18:29 - Hughes’ face is busted up. He’s competing on pride and instinct as Farrell runs away with the remaining sessions. Gerard lasts the six-round distance but has not won the fight.
18:32 - Well, it turns out Hughes has not won the fight, but neither has Farrell, who makes do with an unpopular draw. It seemed like Farrell had done enough over the duration. Referee Hugh Russell Jr saw something else.
Leli Buttigieg Wins TKO 1 Mario Oliviera
18:36 - A pro debut for the exotically-named Leli Buttigieg.
18:39 - Portuguese opponent Mario Olivera barely shipped a right hand and cuffing left before deciding to take a knee in the corner and sit this one out.
18:42 - “There were nerves because I put my pressure on myself, I wanted to perform,” Buttigieg told the ringside interviewer. He looks like a big, strong, rangy talent. Powerful for 18 years of age. Oliviera was extremely poor, however. Tougher tests will come along for Leli. “He’s very heavy-handed,” agreed Eddie Hearn.
Cameron Vuong Wins TKO 4 Michal Dufek
19:14 - After a short break, Cameron Vuong and Michal Dufek enter the ring for their six-round bout. Despite being in his third contest, young Vuong does not seem overawed by the occasion and dances in to Michael Jackson.
19:21 - Veteran Dufak is eager to hold at any opportunity, while Vuong is comfortable hooking off the jab and throwing a disguised left hand to push the Czech off his game.
19:27 - Dufak is counted in round four even though it appears he was wrestled to the canvas, albeit following a sharp right hand. Seconds later, Vuong piles on the pressure, and referee Eamonn Magill jumps in, much to Dufak’s annoyance.
Sean McComb Wins Points 10 Sam Maxwell
19:41 - “Tell me ma” rings around the SSE Arena as Sean McComb enters the ring to join opponent Sam Maxwell, who made a more understated entrance. The noise level goes up a notch for McComb. It’s 10 rounds for a fringe title. These two sparred numerous rounds in the past.
19:53 - Solid start for McComb, whose activity levels see him a step ahead of Maxwell, who is struggling to nail his range. A bruised right eye (which Sam came in to the ring with) and a knockdown at the end of the third do not help his cause.
20:05 - Maxwell floored again from a similar right hook in round five. The Liverpool man looks weary and stumbles back to his corner at the round’s conclusion. Maxwell is unable to find the body, which is conceivably an area he could exploit.
20:24 - Retirement looms for Sam Maxwell, who is down again, this time from a well-placed left hand in the ninth. McComb steps off for the final round and lets his old sparring partner see out the fight.
20:29 - ‘The Public Nuisance’ wins by a landslide as helpless Maxwell concedes two 100-87 cards and a 99-88. McComb thanks his team after sticking to a game plan and outboxing his former gym mate. Sean reveals he stayed disciplined because of Maxwell’s ongoing power.
Caoimhin Agyarko Wins Points 10 Troy Williamson
20:41 - An acid test for Agyarko awaits as Troy Williamson marches to the ring. Agyarko is not far behind. The atmosphere goes through the roof for the hometown fighter. Williamson seems to be revelling in it, too.
20:57 - Williamson struggles to close the range as Agyarko’s razor-left jab dictates where they fight. A little messy in the fourth as a fight breaks out. As long as the fight is long, Agyarko is the boss. Williamson trying everything to take matters inside.
21:09 - Into the seventh, Williamson runs short on ideas as Agyarko continues to soften him with a tasty repertoire to head and body. The action gets a little scrappy as both maul on the inside. Referee Steve Gray lets it happen.
21:18 - Williamson fares a little better in the eighth, landing some sapping body shots that made Caoimhin sag to the ropes. It’s been a physical affair, and the Irishman is feeling the effects. Williamson continues to struggle to cut off the ring and move Agyarko on to shots.
21:25 - Agyarko flies out of his shell at the end of the 10th, goading Troy to engage, letting fly with some heavy combinations. Troy is rocked and tired but holds on to see out the bout.
21:30 - It would appear Caoimhin Agyarko is a close but clear winner. Not so for one of the judges who gives it to Williamson. The other two award the fight to the boxer, Agyarko, who prevails via a split decision and sends the crowd into raptures.
Tyrone McKenna Loses Points 10 Lewis Crocker
21:40 - The atmosphere is electric as both make their way to the ring. McKenna is rapped in with amazing energy.
22:00 - Flexible, confident, punching hard to head and body, Crocker is the boss as McKenna soaks up his best shots and keeps on coming. A great battle of puncher vs. durable boxer. Crocker shows his amateur pedigree, moving and slipping away from Tyrone’s looping punches. Lewis appears to be tiring.
22:08 - Entering the seventh and every Crocker shot throws is launched with mean intentions. A sneaky left hand wobbles McKenna toward the end of the sixth, and Crocker mocks his shaky foe.
22:17 - An exhausted McKenna clambers off his stool for the ninth round to accept more punishment. Crocker’s judgement of distance and head movement have been brilliant at times. The Sandy Row man’s stamina, discipline, mean streak, and shot selection have also been on point as ‘The Mighty Celt’ offers little more than stubbornness and a moral victory.
22:26 - Lewis Crocker now has a name on his record. Tyrone McKenna showed his grit, but Crocker was always a step ahead. Two of the judges gave him all 10 rounds, while one gave McKenna two rounds. Crocker took to the DAZN mic to praise trainer Billy Nelson and crown himself as the new King of Belfast!
Michael Conlan Loses TKO 7 Jordan Gill
22:46 - Michael Conlan and Jordan Gill tread their separate paths to the ring. Conlan’s particular entrance is epic, as usual. The crowd, bathed in green light, sing along enthusiastically as their hero ascends to his altar, directing the worship with every flick of a glove.
22:54 - After a tense opener, Conlan is badly hurt in the second round. The ghosts of Luis Alberto Lopez resurface as the crowd hold their collective breath.
23:03 - Conlan exits an encouraging fourth, where he manages to find his legs and land some solid shots. Once known for his elusive style, Michael stands inside and trades more than is comfortable. He’s battling to keep Gill at bay.
23:20 - Despite the hometown fighter appearing to have weathered the storm, Gill hurts him again. Jordan Gill is the victor as Howard Foster steps in in round seven to halt Conlan. He is lying against the ropes, taking shots after a second knockdown. It’s a painful evening for the winner, who pours his heart out to the DAZN interviewer and receives a spontaneous round of applause from the crowd.
Enjoyed reading that Steve. I know its easy to say this now but I was one of those that wasn't sure he could go all the way when he signed for Arum. Arum was smart as the early career against some no names helped cash in on the Irish/American crowd but I think Arum knew he was limited. Don't get me wrong a skilled fighter but didn't have the power to keep the best fighters off him and it showed in the end. Sad to see him go out to Gill like that but Gill well deserved this time and the win
Morning Steve; in June after the Lopez defeat you asked your readers:
“if he were to hang up the gloves now, how would you rate Conlan’s career?”
As it now looks very likely that this is the end, wondering what your answer to this question is?