Conlan vs Walsh: Kevin Walsh stuns Michael Conlan to secure the points win in Belfast

Walsh danced around the ring, displaying the confidence of a man who had yet to taste defeat as a professional, and despite being far from his home in Brockton, Massachusetts, he appeared right at home.

Conlan came out for the opening bell with the orthodox stance, but quickly returned to the southbound in a very cautious start from both, but the Belfast man’s left hand seemed to breathe life into the opposition with Walsh going over with a right hand.

A gash opened on Conlan’s forehead in a second – the result of a head collision – and blood flowed freely.

It remained cautious for the most part as Conlan looked to find a place to stab but they traded tentatives near the close of the round and it was in this area where Walsh looked dangerous.

The American was constantly bluffing and occasionally provoking, seeking to gain Conlan’s lead, but the Belfast man remained calm, refusing to over-commit as he sought to get a foul from the American in a chess match in the fight.

Both looked very respectful of the other’s strength, meaning the standout moments in the first half were fleeting and limited to individual shots, but Conlan seemed to have more of it as his footwork left the American short during his sporadic raids, but he did get a chance to work on the inside in the seventh game from a brief exchange.

While the blood from Conlan’s previous cut appeared to have stopped, a cut over his right eye was now an issue in the eighth round which provided Walsh with some encouragement, but he still did not fully press in the ninth except for a brief moment near the end of the round where Conlan appeared to be in control of his movement.

The visitor opened the tenth and final round with strong intent but maintained the attack fully, yet he was pressing a little more and in the end, it was enough to see him home.