On an evening when Leigh Wood meets Mauricio Lara in Manchester and Lawrence Okolie clashes with Chris Billam-Smith in Bournemouth, Conlan seems to be for world title glory.
Things kick off with Conlan making an attempt to dethrone one other Mexican 126lbs champion in Lopez, who stunned Josh Warrington on points in an in depth struggle in Leeds in December to select up the IBF gold and win a primary world title.
The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist is determined to change into a world champion on residence soil on the second try, having been stopped by Wood in emphatic style on the finish of an absolute thriller in Nottingham final March, shedding as an expert for the primary time.
Since then he has been on the comeback path, outpointing Miguel Marriaga earlier than producing a sensational first-round knockout of former European title-holder Karim Guerfi earlier than Christmas.
Lopez vs Conlan takes place on Saturday May 27, 2023 at The SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The undercard is because of start at 4pm BST, with major occasion ring walks anticipated on the earlier time of 9pm with a purpose to keep away from a conflict with Okolie-Billam-Smith and Lara-Wood 2.
As ever, these actual timings are topic to alter, relying on the size of the undercard fights.
On Saturday’s undercard, Belfast’s Anthony Cacace defends his IBO super-featherweight world title in opposition to Damian Wrzesinski, whereas Nick Ball places his WBC silver featherweight strap on the road in opposition to Ludomo Lamati.
Dublin’s Pierce O’Leary additionally defends his WBC International light-welterweight title in opposition to Alin Ciorceri of Romania.
Luis Alberto Lopez vs Michael Conlan
Anthony Cacace vs Damian Wrzesinski
Nick Ball vs Ludomo Lamati
Pierce O’Leary vs Alin Ciorceri
Conor Quinn vs Juan Hinostroza
Padraig McCrory vs Diego Ramirez
William Hayden vs Jordan Ellison
Kieran Molloy vs Lesther Espino
Fearghus Quinn vs Ruben Angulo
Kurt Walker vs Maicol Velazco
James Freeman vs Jordan Grannum
Callum Thompson vs Marian Istrate
TV channel: In the UK, Lopez vs Conlan is being broadcast reside on BT Sport, with protection starting at 6:30pm BST on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate.
Live stream: BT Sport subscribers can even catch the motion reside on-line by way of the BT Sport web site and app.
This is the most important struggle in Belfast for the reason that unforgettable nights that includes Carl Frampton, however a hostile ambiance absolutely gained’t hassle Lopez all that a lot.
The ‘Road Warrior’ earned that nickname for a motive and isn't any stranger to pulling off outcomes on his travels, simply as he confirmed in opposition to Isaac Lowe at York Hall again in December 2021 and in entrance of Warrington’s passionate Leeds devoted final day out.
Lopez is a canny operator who shocked Warrington along with his sturdy begin, displaying nice ring craft and bouncing again from a clumsy reduce to struggle fireplace with fireplace and edge a call on two of the three judges scorecards.
He must repeat that feat in opposition to Conlan, who's itching to assert his first world title and consign to historical past that last-gasp defeat by Wood through which he was on observe for an exciting factors victory earlier than being actually punched via the ropes in brutal style within the closing spherical in Nottingham.
Conlan bought too forward of himself in that struggle, turning on the model however then getting overly assured when he didn’t must, taking pointless dangers in opposition to a hard-hitting opponent for which he paid the worth.
If he can preserve his calm right here, field sensibly and neatly amid a terrific Belfast backing, then he ought to have what it takes to edge an in depth contest on the playing cards and change into a world champion finally.
Conlan to win on factors.
Conlan tipped the scales on Friday at 129.9 lbs whereas Lopez got here in at 125.5 lbs.
Lopez to win: 4/5
Conlan to win: 1/1
Draw: 16/1
Lopez to win by KO/TKO: 3/1
Conlan to win by KO/TKO: 18/5
Lopez to win by factors or choice: 3/1
Conlan to win by factors or choice: 7/5
Odds by way of Betfair (topic to alter).
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