British contender Jordan Gill and Irish former world title challenger Michael Conlan met in the ring on Saturday to redeem themselves from previous losses suffered at featherweight. Fighting in the super featherweight division, the fighters headlined at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Conlan’s home city, on December 2nd. However, it was the away visitor who grabbed a notable win on the night, stopping Conlan in the 7th round. The event was broadcasted by DAZN and promoted by Matchroom.
Both Jordan Gill (28-2-1, 9 KO’s) and Michael Conlan (18-3, 9 KO’s) had suffered losses at featherweight before opting to move up to super featherweight, making this match a crucial comeback opportunity for both fighters.
The match took an unexpected turn in the second round when Conlan, who had been dominating until then, was knocked down by Gill, surprising the home crowd and shifting the dynamics of the fight. While Conlan appeared strong prior to the knockdown, Gill now seemed to have the advantage on the scorecards, pressing forward as Conlan found himself in an unfamiliar position of being pressured.
Despite Gill’s efforts to capitalize on the knockdown, his lack of power compared to Conlan prevented him from securing a knockout in subsequent rounds, even though he managed to pressure Conlan against the ropes or into corners. Conlan eventually mounted his own attacks and pressure, leading to a back-and-forth contest as both fighters took turns being the aggressor.
By the eighth round, Gill held a narrow lead on the scorecards, excluding the earlier knockdown. While more punches were thrown by Gill, Conlan’s power presented challenges throughout the match, creating an exciting and evenly matched encounter as both fighters aimed to avoid a second consecutive loss.
In the end, it was the visiting fighter, British contender Jordan Gill, who secured a victory with a stunning display of effective punches that penetrated Conlan’s defense. As Conlan struggled with Gill’s punches in the eighth round, the referee intervened and stopped the match. Simultaneously, it appeared that Conlan’s team threw in the towel, granting Jordan Gill a convincing victory, surprising given he was the away fighter and not expected to win in such fashion.
Jordan Gill claimed a stoppage/technical knockout victory in the eighth round, marking a successful comeback after his previous loss to now-retired Spanish former world champion Kiko Martinez in October 2022. His win establishes him as a new contender to watch at 130 lbs in a weight class that has already seen British former world champion Leigh Wood (28-3, 17 KO’s) make his mark.
The preceding fight card featured a similar scenario, with an away fighter securing a convincing win in the welterweight bout between Irishman Tyrone McKenna (23-4-1, 6 KO’s) and British fighter Lewis Crocker (18-0, 10 KO’s). Crocker maintained his unbeaten career winning streak, securing a victory by unanimous decision.
Following his fourth career loss, Tyrone McKenna decided to retire after a career that has spanned from 2012 to 2023. Though he never became a world champion, McKenna won several mid-tier or continental titles including the WBC International and WBO Inter-Continental titles.
McKenna competed in multiple weight classes throughout his career, including 140 lbs, 147 lbs, and 154 lbs. In the latter stage of his tenure as a professional boxer, he participated in the welterweight division. His list of opponents includes several notable names, such as Regis Prograis, Jack Catterall, and Ohara Davies—fighters responsible for three out of his four professional defeats.
Nicknamed ‘The Mighty Celt’ during his professional career, McKenna has decided to retire at the age of 33.
