Michael Conlan says the Belfast Arena will be "buzzing" when he attempts to take a "massive opportunity" against IBF world champion Luis Alberto Lopez on Saturday.
Lopez, meanwhile, intends to spoil the party by winning the headline bout by knockout on a card packed with local fighters, and has been working with trainer Kay Koroma in Las Vegas for what he expects to be a "difficult" test.
"This has been the best training camp of my entire career," says the Mexican. "As soon as he starts planting his feet a bit, the fight will end very quickly. I expect him to come out and box. But I have the speed and strength to cut the ring and find him. I will knock Michael Conlan out."
Here's the full list of fights taking place when Lopez meets Conlan.
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Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Lopez record: 27-2-0 with 15 wins by KO
- Conlan record: 18-1-0 with 9 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: IBF World
IBF world champion Lopez makes his first defence of the title he won by beating Josh Warrington via decision in Leeds in December 2022.
As was the case against Warrington, Lopez travels to his opponent's home city again — this time Belfast — in pursuit of victory.
Former super bantamweight champion Conlan's only defeat of his career came in a defeat to Leigh Wood in Nottingham in March 2022.
Nick Ball vs. Ludumo Lamati
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Ball record: 17-0-0 with 10 wins by KO
- Lamati record: 21-0-1 with 11 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: WBC Silver featherweight title
Liverpudlian Ball attracted plenty of excitement by knocking out Isaac Lowe, Nathanael Kakololo and Jesus Ramirez Rubio in 2022 as he continued his charge towards a title shot against champion Rey Vargas.
South African Lamati has fought once outside of his homeland and is more familiar with competing at super bantamweight, knocking out Filipino Mark Anthony Geraldo in November in his second bout at featherweight.
“I don’t really know anything about him – just that he’s tall," said Ball, who wants a crack at Conlan. "But they all are until they get in the ring with me and I bring them down to my size."
Anthony Cacace vs. Damian Wrzesinski
- Division/Weight: Super featherweight
- Cacace record: 20-1-0 with 7 wins by KO
- Wrzesinski record: 26-2-2 with 7 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: IBO World
Cacace — a fighter known as 'The Apache' — beat Michael Magnesi in September 2022 to continue his four-fight winning run since moving from super lightweight to super featherweight.
That victory at Manchester Arena landed the Belfast-born boxer his IBO title, which he will defend against Poland's Wrzesinski.
All but two of the 35-year-old challenger's professional fights have been in Poland, with his two defeats both coming on points.
Padraig McCrory vs. Diego Ramirez
- Division/Weight: Super-middleweight
- McCrory record: 16-0-0 with 9 wins by KO
- Ramirez record: 25-9-1 with 6 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: None
Having campaigned at middleweight as an Irish champion, McCrory won a version of a WBC belt at super middleweight.
He then stepped up to light heavyweight, winning the IBO title by beating home fighter Leon Bunn in Germany in October 2022.
Ramirez, who travelled to beat British fighter Bradley Skeete in 2018, had lost his previous four fights before defeating Marcelo Fabian Bzowski in Argentina in February and has been confirmed late as McCrory's opponent. "This is an opportunity for him to come and cause an upset that will put him in a great position," said McCrory.
Pierce O'Leary vs. Alin Florin Ciorceri
- Division/Weight: Super lightweight
- O'Leary record: 11-0-0 with 6 wins by KO
- Ciorceri record: 17-3-0 with 7 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: WBC International
One of five fighters on the card competing for Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions, O'Leary won his WBC belt by beating Emmanuel Mungandjela on points at London's O2 Arena in November 2022.
O'Leary is a nine-time Irish champion and has been described as a "unique talent" by Queensberry because of his side hustle as a horse whisperer.
Romanian Ciorceri had fought exclusively in Spain, where he is based, until he beat Levi Kinsiona on points in Sheffield six months ago.
Conor Quinn vs. Juan Hinostroza
- Division/Weight: Super flyweight
- Quinn record: 5-0-1 with 4 wins by KO
- Hinostroza record: 11-10-2 with 5 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: None
William Hayden vs. Karl Sampson
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Hayden record: 5-0-0 with 1 wins by KO
- Sampson record: 5-18-1 with 1 win by KO
- Belts at stake: None
Kieran Molloy vs. Lesther Espino
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Molloy record: 5-0-0 with 3 wins by KO
- Espino record: 6-3-0 with 4 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: None
Fearghus Quinn vs. Ruben Angulo
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- Quinn record: 5-0-0 with 2 wins by KO
- Angulo record: 8-5-2 with 4 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: None
Kurt Walker vs. Maicol Velazco
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Walker record: 6-0-0 with 1 win by KO
- Velazco record: 10-6-0 with 3 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: None
James Freeman vs. TBA
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Freeman record: 0-0-0
- Belts at stake: None
Callum Thompson vs. Marian Marius Istrate
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Thompson record: 6-0-0 with 1 win by KO
- Istrate record: 3-16-0 with 0 wins by KO
- Belts at stake: None
When is Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan?
- Date: Saturday, May 27 | Sunday, May 28
- Start time: 2 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. GMT | 4 a.m. AEDT
- Main event: 4 p.m. ET | 9 p.m. GMT | 6 a.m. AEDT (approx.)
Lopez vs. Conlan takes place on May 27. The event starts at 2 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. GMT | 4 p.m. AEDT. Lopez and Conlan should make their way to the ring around 4 p.m. ET | 9 p.m. GMT | 6 a.m. AEDT, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch Lopez vs. Conlan
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States/ Canada | May 27 | ESPN+ |
| United Kingdom | May 27 | BT Sport |
Lopez vs. Conlan will air on ESPN+ in the US and BT Sport in the UK.
MORE: Sign up to watch Lopez vs. Conlan, exclusively on ESPN+
Lopez vs. Conlan PPV price: How much does the fight cost?
You can pay $9.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $99.99.
|
Product |
Prices |
|
ESPN+ Monthly Subscription |
$9.99/month |
|
ESPN+ Annual Subscription |
$99.99/year |
|
The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported |
$13.99/month |
|
The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads |
$19.99/month |
The fight is available for no extra charge to BT Sport subscribers, or a monthly BT Sport pass costs £29.99 per month with no contract.
