Michael Conlan vs. Karim Guerfi Prediction: Conlan To Easily Defeat The French

When featherweight contender Michael Conlan steps between the ropes to fight Frenchman Karim Guerfi on December 11th at the SSE Arena in Belfast, he'll be laser-focused on giving his finest performance.

In August, the Belfast-based trainer overcame a heartbreaking 12th-round stoppage loss to Leigh Wood to overcome three-time world championship contender Miguel Marriaga. Conlan demonstrated all of the characteristics that have made him a star, cheered on by a passionately devoted home crowd: speed, movement, angles, and ring IQ. The outcome was a unanimous 10-round decision.

Guerfi (31-6, 9 KOs) is a former European bantamweight champion. The 35-year-old, like Conlan, is an excellent boxer-mover with crisp technique and intellect. Guerfi, who has been a professional for 16 years, will attempt to capitalize on this occasion and establish his own claim for a world championship shot. As Cambridgeshire's Jordan Gill can confirm, he is not to be overlooked.

Guerfi was a massive underdog and viewed as a steppingstone when he traveled to London in February to face Gill. The visitor nearly ripped the script. Guerfi floored Gill brutally in the seventh round, then illegally dragged him head-first to the floor. Gill was forced to fight out of his own corner for about five minutes after his eardrum was punctured and his equilibrium was entirely lost. Guerfi unleashed a combination and was knocked down with a big right hand to the chin. The battle was terminated without a count.

Michael Conlan has all the characteristics to make him the star of this fight. Having the advantage of the passionately devoted home crowd with combination of speed, movement and ring IQ, Conlan will easily take over Karim Guerfi in this boxing bout.

• Total Over 7.5 for 1.9
• Points Victory – Michael Conlan for 2.5
• Decision W Michael Conlan – Yes for 2.5