Luis Alberto Lopez floors Michael Conlan, keeps IBF title - ESPN
ESPN Luis Alberto Lopez needed to again cross the Atlantic Ocean if he wanted to remain a featherweight champion. And for the second time in six months, Lopez retained the IBF belt in the 126-pound division.
Lopez stopped Michael Conlan in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday with a thunderous right uppercut in the fifth round that put the Irish challenger on his back and prompted his corner to throw the towel to stop the bout before the referee could administer a 10-count.
"I wanted to come to Belfast so I can prove that I am a true champion," Lopez said through an interpreter in a postfight interview with BT Sport.
Conlan was down for a couple of minutes following the stoppage and received oxygen from the medical staff before he eventually sat up and returned to his corner. He stood in the middle of the ring and applauded Lopez as the result was announced inside the ring.
