IBF champion Luis Lopez says Michael Conlan won’t last more than seven rounds against him in Saturday night’s world title rumble.
Super-confident Mexican Lopez boasted that Conlan doesn’t have the power to hurt him and won’t be able to handle his hammer-handed style when they meet at the SSE Arena.
The road warrior from Baja stopped highly-rated Isaac Lowe in London and won the world title with a career-best performance against Josh Warrington in Leeds last year. Conlan was not his mandatory challenger so he didn’t have to come to Belfast to put his title on the line, it was his choice and he is convinced that he will return to Mexico with his belt.
“I truly believe that he doesn’t have the power to give me trouble,” said ‘El Venado’.
“I’ve been working hard in sparring. I’ve fought up in the lightweight division and I’ve been at super-featherweight so I’ve been in against tall guys, small guys and strong guys… I don’t think he’s going to be a problem.
“Honestly, I don’t think Conlan is going to be able to last more than seven rounds. I feel very strong, mentally I’m very strong, I’ve had a great camp, I’ve had great sparring so I don’t think this fight will last the distance.”
In the other corner on Saturday night is a man who came tantalisingly close to winning a world title last year and is determined to go take the extra step in front of his home fans.
Conlan says it’ll be: “AND THE NEW…” at the SSE Arena.
“Thanks for Luis for coming to Belfast, you’re very welcome here but on Saturday night I will be champion,” he said at a raucous press conference in the Europa Hotel.
“I’ve experienced all kinds of atmospheres in my career so I know how to handle it now. I’m looking forward to Saturday night. I need to go in there and perform and beat Luis.
“I know he plans to knock me out but I know he changed trainers a few times during his training camp. There are probably things going on with him and I don’t think he truly believes (he’ll knock me out) he has to say that for the cameras and that’s ok. I respect him as a fighter but on Saturday night I’ll be champion.”
Top Rank promoter and bona fide boxing legend boxing legend Bob Arum was back in Belfast, a city he first visited in 1985 when he came to support Bernard Taylor who fought Barry McGuigan at the King’s Hall.
“It’s two terrific fighters,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be a battle from the beginning to the end. Lopez is very good, he’s beaten some terrific fighters. He went to the UK to beat Warrington in his home town so he’s used to travelling but Mick asked us to make the fight and he’s confident that he can win.
“We’ll have to see if he’s right – that’s why they’re having a fight. Mexican fighters are always very good and very determined and they don’t quit.
“Even if a fight is going against them they can still suck it up and still pull out a victory. A lot of fighters are frontrunners – if they’re doing well early on, okay they hang on and they win the fight but if it’s going against them they quit. Mexican fighters don’t do that – they never give up.”
