SATURDAY: Luis Alberto Lopez-Michael Conlan Featherweight World Title Showdown Headlines Belfast Fight Night at The SSE Arena LIVE on ESPN+
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 25 May 2023
Lopez-Conlan and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT
BELFAST (May 24, 2023) — Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez will make the first defense of his IBF featherweight world title against Michael “Mick” Conlan this Saturday, May 27, at The SSE Arena in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast.
Promoted by Top Rank and Conlan Boxing, in association with Queensberry Promotions, Lopez-Conlan and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT.
Lopez (27-2, 15 KOs), from Mexicali, Mexico, navigated bumpy terrain to become a world champion. Despite losing early in his career to Abraham Montoya and Ruben Villa, he regained his momentum with victories over unbeaten standouts Gabriel Flores Jr. and Isaac Lowe. After two stay-busy wins, Lopez received his shot at the title, defeating Josh Warrington last December in enemy territory in Leeds, England. Now under the tutelage of Kay Koroma, he is set to make his first title defense.
Conlan (18-1, 9 KOs), a 31-year-old Olympic bronze medalist, made an unsuccessful bid for the WBA featherweight title against Leigh Wood in March 2022 but bounced back later that year with wins over Miguel Marriaga and Karim Guerfi. Less than six months after his first-round knockout against Guerfi, he will return to The SSE Arena for the third straight time.
In other ESPN+ streaming action from Belfast:
• In a battle of undefeated featherweights, Nick Ball (17-0, 10 KOs) defends his WBC Silver title in a 12-rounder against Ludumo Lamati (21-0-1, 11 KOs). Ball, hailing from Liverpool, England, secured his regional title by defeating Isaac Lowe via sixth-round TKO in April 2022. He defended it later that year with stoppage wins against Nathanael Kakololo and Jesus Ramirez Rubio. Lamati, from South Africa, enters the bout after his fourth-round knockout win against Mark Anthony Geraldo last November.
• Junior lightweight contender Anthony Cacace (20-1, 7 KOs) takes on Polish standout Damian Wrzesinski (26-2-2, 7 KOs) in a 12-round clash. Cacace is 5-0 after suffering his first defeat in 2017 and is coming off a decision win against Michael Magnesi last September. Wrzesinski returns to the ring after decisioning Artjoms Ramlavs last October.
• Pierce O’Leary (11-0, 6 KOs), the undefeated fighting pride of Dublin, defends his WBC International title in a 10-round junior welterweight tilt against Romania’s Alin Florin Ciorceri (17-3, 7 KOs).
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS MASOUD BEATS McGRAIL
Sun, 07 Dec 2025Pitbull Cruz and Lamont Roach Battle to Controversial Majority Draw in High-Intensity Title Clash
Sun, 07 Dec 2025Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Ju-jitsu in Thailand SEA Games
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Mapua, IIEE Singapore and IM Concio wins the 7th IIEE ANC Cup co-awarded by GM Torre
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pontinos to see action in PH Jetski in SEA Games
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pitbull vs. Roach Jr & Co-Headliner Foster vs. Fulton Make for Solid PPV
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Weights from Philadelphia
Sat, 06 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED WITH MASOUD AND McGRAIL SET TO BATTLE
Sat, 06 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025