Born in Belfast and a decorated Olympic Medalist, Conlan, 20-3, 10Ko’s is one of Ireland's most popular and recognizable fighters. He turned professional in 2017 following a celebrated amateur career and rose to become a two-time world title challenger. 

His most recent world title defeat came in May 2023, a fifth-round TKO loss to IBF Featherweight Champion Luis Alberto Lopez. That was followed in December 2023 by a seventh-round TKO loss to Jordan Gill. The Gill defeat came at the SSE Arena in Belfast itself, where Conlan was knocked down in the second round and stopped in the seventh, leaving him with back-to-back stoppage losses in his home city.

After a 15-month absence from the ring, Conlan returned in March 2025 with a points win over Asad Asif Khan, then made his professional debut in the Republic of Ireland on September 5, 2025, at the 3Arena in Dublin. There, he stopped Jack Bateson in the fourth round to capture the vacant WBC International Featherweight title, dropping Bateson in rounds three and four before the fight was waved off after Bateson, having risen from the final knockdown, appeared to injure his ankle and was deemed unable to continue.  It was his 10th knockout from 20 victories and his first stoppage win in 33 months.

Now 34, Conlan is clear-eyed about where he stands in his career. He has described the Belfast contest as potentially his last fight at home, framing it as part of a final push toward a world title: "I can't wait to come back to Belfast to fight, on this last run towards a world title. It has all the makings of a special night, as I keep pushing for that shot at world honors, and I plan to savour every second of it, because it's potentially my last ever fight at home."

Walsh, 19-0, 10Ko’s, born September 8th, 1992, in Brockton, Massachusetts, drew early inspiration from local legends Marvin Hagler and Rocky Marciano. He came to boxing relatively late, competing in over 50 amateur bouts before turning professional on May 8, 2021. His personal story includes losing his father at 17 after his father was attacked and suffered a fatal brain injury, a period that led Walsh into trouble before boxing became his focus.

Walsh arrives in Belfast having won five consecutive bouts by stoppage. His most significant scalp to date is a 10-round split decision over Tramaine Williams — a former world title challenger — in May 2025, the only occasion Walsh has competed beyond eight rounds as a professional.

Prior to accepting the Conlan fight, Walsh had been publicly calling out WBA Featherweight World Champion Nick Ball.

The 33-year-old has been direct about his intentions: "On March 20th I'm coming to ring Micky's bell fast! I'm ready to go 20-0. Respect to him and his team for accepting this fight, and I know we both will be at our best on fight night, but the kid from Brockton, Massachusetts is coming to Belfast to make a statement."

For Conlan, retaining the WBC International title keeps him inside the WBC featherweight rankings and maintains the momentum of his late-career rebuild. The belt serves primarily as a ranking tool — a vehicle to lift him further up the WBC ratings and keep a world title shot within reach. A defeat, at home, in what may be his final Belfast appearance, would almost certainly end that ambition.

For Walsh, the stakes are different but equally significant. He arrives trying to force his name into conversations at international level that his record has not yet earned. None of his 19 opponents carry Conlan's pedigree or ring IQ, and this is by far the highest-profile test of his unbeaten record to date.

Conlan is a technically accomplished southpaw who built his base through an elite amateur career. His vulnerabilities at professional level have been well documented — durability when the pace turns ugly and exchanges refuse to tidy themselves has been a recurring issue in his defeats. Walsh, meanwhile, is an orthodox pressure fighter who backs opponents up and looks to impose pace. His confidence has not wavered heading into this challenge. His quote — "I'm coming to ring Micky's bell fast" — signals how he intends to fight.

The central question is whether Walsh's pressure and volume can overcome Conlan's ring intelligence and a partisan Belfast crowd that tends to lift the Irishman's performances, or whether Conlan's sharper technique and superior experience prove decisive against an opponent stepping up markedly in opposition for the first time.

Bookmakers make Conlan a strong favourite, with implied probability estimates placing him at approximately 76% to win.

The event is the first MF Pro card to air on DAZN under a newly announced long-term broadcast partnership between the two organisations. MF Pro is led by promoter Kalle Sauerland, with matchmaker Sam Walmsley, and the contest is sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control. Sauerland said of the night: "Mick knows this could be the last time he fights in Belfast, so there's no room for error against a big punching and confident Walsh, who is going to make his presence felt on March 20."

DAZN VP Alfie Sharman added: "Walsh is unbeaten and very dangerous, and Conlan will have to be at his very best to keep his world title dreams alive."

Full Card

WBC International Featherweight Title

Michael Conlan, 20-3 vs Kevin Walsh, 19-0, 10rds   

Vacant IBF European Welterweight Title

Kieran Molloy, 13-0 vs Xavier Kohlen, 15-2-1, 10rds    

Super Middleweights

Niall Brown, 17-0 vs Darren Johnstone, 12-1, 10rds    

Super Welterweights

Glenn Byrne, 6-0-1 vs Owen O'Neill, 13-2, 8rds            

Super Featherweights

Codie Smith, 8-0-1, vs Lee Gormley, 6-2, 6rds  

Super Welterweights

Jak Corrie, 8-0 vs Jacob Quinn, 8-7-1, 6rds       

Lightweights 

Kurt Walker, 12-1 vs Yahir Alexander Solorio Morales, 6-21-5, 6rds  

Super Welterweights

Kyle Smith, 3-0 vs Eduardo Vera Sanchez, 2-17-2, 4rds         

Super Featherweights

Sam Norris, 1-0 vs TBA 4rds                                 

Event: Michael Conlan vs. Kevin Walsh

Date: Friday, March 20, 2026

Venue: SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Promoter: Nisse Sauerland - MF Pro

Matchmaker: Sam Walmsley

Media: DAZN Live from 5:00 PM GMT

Ringwalks: Approx. 10:00 PM GMT

For tickets to Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh just (click here).

MF Pro, also called Misfits Pro, is the professional boxing arm of Misfits Boxing, a London-based promotion founded in 2022 by KSI, Mams Taylor, and promoters Kalle and Nisse Sauerland under Wasserman Boxing. It launched in June 2024 to host sanctioned pro bouts, separate from Misfits' celebrity crossover events.

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Early signings included amateur standout Amir Anderson, who debuted on X Series cards, followed by Viddal Riley in December 2025, who announced plans for standalone MF Pro events. Amer Abdallah became president that month, with social media rollout highlighting pro focus. The first major card is Mick Conlan vs. Kevin Walsh on March 20, 2026, in Belfast.

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MF Pro holds DAZN broadcast rights and features champions like Amir Anderson (middleweight) and Ty Mitchell (light heavyweight/super middleweight). It targets traditional boxing audiences while leveraging Misfits' infrastructure.