BoxRec

Press Release

The London spotlight will shine on Belfast's Michael “Mick” Conlan and South African great Moruti Mthalane from Copper Box Arena on Friday, April 30.

Mthalane, who is undefeated since 2008, will defend his IBF flyweight world title in the main event against London native Sunny Edwards. In the co-feature, longtime featherweight contender Conlan will make his junior featherweight debut in a 12-rounder against noted spoiler Ionut Baluta.

Promoted by allegedly’s Queensberry Promotions, Mthalane-Edwards and Conlan-Baluta will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. Undercard bouts are scheduled to begin live on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

“This is a big step up for Mick, as Baluta has pulled off quite a few upsets and is motivated to do so once again,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Mick is close to a world title shot, and I expect him to be at his very best April 30. I am also pleased that American fight fans will have an opportunity to watch the sensational Mthalane, who is in tough against the young Edwards.”

Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) is back after a disappointing 2020 that started with the COVID-related cancellation of his annual St. Patrick’s Day bout in New York and ended with an ankle injury suffered while training in November. He knocked out former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht last August and now sets his focus on the junior featherweight division. He is ranked No. 1 by the WBO and No. 8 by the WBA, and he could be in line for a world title shot with a victory over Baluta (14-2, 3 KOs), a Romanian who is used to overcoming long odds. Last March, Baluta stunned former junior featherweight world champion TJ Doheny via eight-round unanimous decision, and six months later, he knocked out Conlan’s 2016 Irish Olympic teammate Davey Oliver Joyce in the third round.

Conlan said, "I'm very excited to get back in the ring against Ionut Baluta on April 30. I know how tough of a fighter Baluta is, but I've been training hard since shortly after my last win in August and will be well prepared for victory. I'm looking forward to putting on a great show and can't wait to get back in the ring."

Mthalane, 38, won his first world title in November 2009 with a unanimous decision over Julio Cesar Miranda for the vacant IBF crown. He cemented his world-class status with successful defenses over countryman Zolani Tete (TKO 5) and current WBO bantamweight world champion John Riel Casimero (TKO 5). He reclaimed the IBF world title in July 2017 with a narrow decision win over Muhammad Waseem and has since defeated a trio of Japanese challengers: Masahiro Sakamoto (TKO 10), Masayuki Kuroda (UD) and Akira Yaegashi (TKO 9).

Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs) has fought his last two bouts at junior bantamweight, but he returns to flyweight for a crack at one of boxing’s most celebrated champions. He last fought at flyweight in September 2019, dominating Rosendo Hugo Guarneros to win the vacant IBF International and WBO Intercontinental straps.

"Moruti is the most criminally underrated fighter, having not lost in 13 years, and he is a proper, proper threat," Edwards said. "This is no gimme or easy world title fight — it is very, very far from that. I asked for this fight and, if you look back at press conferences or interviews, you can see that I have wanted it for some time. In my head, this is what was coming to me and it is finally here, and I have got what I wanted.”

Mthalane has had a really good career and slightly under the radar (for me) career with some really decent names on, Miranda, Tete, Casimero Yaegashi just for a start, thats not a bad little roster.

Conlan is not a great watch. Skillfull fighter but without about as much power as Adam Smith after a 3 hour North Finnish Sauna

Conlan has been a bit more entertaining under Booth to be fair. This is a solid opponent for him, would of course preferred Dogboe, but it’s not a big deal.

Quality main event, I fancy Edwards to sneak a decision. Was also quite impressed with him as an analyst - clearly he did a lot of prep on the fighters, which was refreshing.

With it being headed by smaller guys, Warren will need to stick Adeleye on in hopefully a 8 round step up for entertaining blow out.

forcefraser wrote: ↑27 Mar 2021, 09:08 Conlan is not a great watch. Skillfull fighter but without about as much power as Adam Smith after a 3 hour North Finnish Sauna

I dunno mate, Conlan is gradually adapting to the pro game.
He is still only 14 fights into the pros, we see a lot American ams take 20+ soft opponents before they step up to fighting other prospects/contenders.
It's a good test. At 38 we will have to see what Baluta still has, and how Conlan deals with it.

i think mick has got better and better every fight, i think he will stop baluta, i see baluta fight v dohnery tough scrap, mick is a better all round fighter

conlan's about to turn 30 and had like a zillion amateur fights, they are kinda taking it slow with him

the american ams usually turn pro way earlier

Is the Conkan right at Super-bantam?

This Romanian guys decently ranked but at Super bantam. Nothing good ever came of feasting on guys from the weight division below so let’s hope he’s now campaigning down at 122.

Baluta is on a roll..

Kyle Williams
TJ Doheny
David Oliver Joyce

jameswilson wrote: ↑27 Mar 2021, 23:20 Is the Conkan right at Super-bantam?

This Romanian guys decently ranked but at Super bantam. Nothing good ever came of feasting on guys from the weight division below so let’s hope he’s now campaigning down at 122.

It is Super-Bant..

It says it on the side of the poster.

Don't overlook Baluta, he's been on an upset run, and Conlan, to me, just.... Doesn't have what's needed to be at the top of the pro game. Very tough fight imo

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑27 Mar 2021, 17:05 conlan's about to turn 30 and had like a zillion amateur fights, they are kinda taking it slow with him

the american ams usually turn pro way earlier

i really think they were after the big pay days full arenas in new york like st pats not gonna happen now, realistically if he wins a belt he will problay deffend it a couple of times then he is done , i think mick is a really good boxer who boxes better against better fighters, i expect mick to win maybe a stoppage body shots

Baluta seems to enjoy giving a hiding to the Irish. Doheny and Joyce have been battered to a pulp by him. Conlan might just be able to run his pillow punch, feint & run routine to get the win.

TheLeprechaun wrote: ↑06 Apr 2021, 14:45 Baluta seems to enjoy giving a hiding to the Irish. Doheny and Joyce have been battered to a pulp by him. Conlan might just be able to run his pillow punch, feint & run routine to get the win.

but tj who i thought werent bad at times and joyce aint in the same class as mick he aint much baluta , mick aint a midgit will dominate him , yea denton wilder had beat a couple of irish fighters till the big irish champ battered him

Considering Conlan AM experience he has been matched very carefully. They have kept him away from any type of puncher and avoided the British route. Compare Joe Joyce. Look how Joe has stepped up. Look at Shakur Stevenson.....younger than Conlan and in the same division who is now on the verge of being a 2 division world champ. I always thought it spoke volumes when Shakur won the world title and Conlan said nothing as it would have been a very easy top rank fight to make. Then he was mandatory for Navarrete when Shakur moved up. I 100% knew he wouldnt take that fight which he didn't.

agree totally

baluta himself, while a respectable danger man, has been a 122 pound fighter and is being brought up here.

for being 30 and a zillion amateru fights and wsb fights, defo been moved slowly

This is actually a very good fight and my money is on Baluta, possibly by KO.

Conlan is an accident waiting to happen.

Hope MTK boy gets battered like Frampton, Can't stand him, he's not a world class pro either

I feel like we could watch him lose at any point. Could be this one....

mick has that genuine bit of class about him tough as anything baluta bullyied doheny though it was close, joyce came in swinging just couldnt take the shots totaly different fighter mick , well if people see this the fight he loses then surley a fight that makes him too then, i see a mick body shots stopping baluta , honstley i would be shocked if mick lost this fight or doesnt win it wide on the cards

Fight Week

i reckon mick can stop baluta , lets face it baluta aint gonna get a points decsion dont matter how good he is this is like canelo v bjs , so baluta will have to at least put mick down and the romaina is an agresive quite wild puncher anyway i see mick stopping this fella body shot also think this fighter suits micks style as conlan moves well not in straight lines in out switch hitter 8thrd ko con

Conlan will stop him
Baluta will start spitting the gum
shield out the body shots will get to him points off and then stopped or dq

I rate Conlan higher than most it seems. Solid skills and iq.

very close fight, i had it a draw