Carl Frampton feels that Michael Conlan can return from the second knockout defeat of his career following his recent May 27th loss in his challenge for the IBF world featherweight title in Belfast against Luis Alberto Lopez.
Conlan was knocked down in the fifth round after being on the receiving end of a right uppercut as Conlan dipped down to attack the body, catching the Belfast native flush on the chin. Immediately Adam Booth, who trains Conlan, threw in the towel, remained on the canvas and required medical assistance as a precaution inside the squared circle.
Conlan’s second world title challenge ended inside the distance following his fight of the year contender against Leigh Wood in his challenge for the WBA world featherweight crown in March of 2022. The ending came in the twelfth and final round where Conlan was punched through the ropes and unable to continue.
The former unified super-bantamweight world champion & WBA super-world featherweight champion Frampton feels Conlan can have a third run in pursuit of a world title. However, he admits it will be tricky to do so with the losses now on his record.
Speaking on his Youtube channel, Carl still believes that Conlan is Ireland’s most skilled fighter, despite his advancing years.
“Mick is probably the most skilled fighter that Ireland has ever seen. I mean that. That’s no consolation to him, he’ll be disappointed that he’s lost a fight. He’s had two cracks at a world title now - he lost very unluckily to Leigh Wood [in March 2022] right at the death, but this fight he was taken apart.
“He’s not getting any younger now. I think one of the issues going forward for Mick will be that he is a difficult fight for people, but he’s lost twice. He’s had two world title attempts and he’s lost twice. A champion may look at Mick Conlan and go, ‘why do I need to take that fight?’
“He doesn’t really bring loads to the table, because of the defeats now. It’s a hard, hard fight. It’s going to be difficult for him. He needs to get a couple of wins again, maybe, before he’s back in line to fight. He may have to get in to a mandatory position because he’s the most skilled fighter in Ireland, and who wants to fight him if you’re going to have a difficult fight? What I will say - and, again, no consolation - there have been much lesser world champions than Mick Conlan. I do think he can come back, but it’s not going to be easy.”
