Carl Frampton Believes Michael Conlan Can Come Back But It Won’t Be Easy

Carl Frampton does think Michael Conlan can come back from his most recent loss but it won’t be easy.

Conlan suffered a fifth-round TKO loss to Luis Alberto Lopez in the Irishman’s second chance at becoming a world champion. After the loss, Conlan admitted he wasn’t sure what his future holds as he may retire young like his brother did.

However, if he decides to stick around, Frampton thinks Conlan can become a world champion but it will easier said than done.

“Mick is probably the most skilled fighter that Ireland has ever seen. I mean that. That’s no consolation to him, he’ll be disappointed that he’s lost a fight. He’s had two cracks at a world title now – he lost very unluckily to Leigh Wood [in March 2022] right at the death, but this fight he was taken apart,” Frampton said on his Youtube channel (h/t BoxingScene). “He’s not getting any younger now. I think one of the issues going forward for Mick will be that he is a difficult fight for people, but he’s lost twice. He’s had two world title attempts and he’s lost twice. A champion may look at Mick Conlan and go, ‘why do I need to take that fight?’

“He doesn’t really bring loads to the table, because of the defeats now. It’s a hard, hard fight. It’s going to be difficult for him,” Frampton continued. “He needs to get a couple of wins again, maybe, before he’s back in line to fight. He may have to get in to a mandatory position because he’s the most skilled fighter in Ireland, and who wants to fight him if you’re going to have a difficult fight? What I will say – and, again, no consolation – there have been much lesser world champions than Mick Conlan. I do think he can come back, but it’s not going to be easy.”

Michael Conlan is currently 18-2 as a pro but does hold notable wins over Karim Guerfi, Miguel Marriaga, TJ Doheny, and Vladimir Nikitin.

Do you think Michael Conlan will fight again?