Michael Conlan was referred to as British by a boxing commentator just minutes before he walked out to fight Luis Alberto Lopez at the SSE Arena in Belfast to 'Grace'.
The West Belfast native who represented Ireland twice at the Olympic Games, winning bronze in London in 2012, was called British by English commentator Steve Bunce before the fight got underway.
Bunce was explaining that out of the last 18 World title fights at featherweight, 14 of them were contested by British fighters.
"This is our division, this is a British division," he continued.
"Mick has got this, he could make it 28 with 10 defences here."
It was at this point that Carl Frampton felt it neccesary to interfene and stop Bunce in his tracks.
"You have already went to a meme level there calling Mick a Brit," Frampton laughed.
"That's blown my chances of being invited to the after party," Bunce replied.
Can't wait for @bigdaddybunce to go out in Belfast tonight and have a load of ones give him an oul lesson about the Good Friday Agreement (25 years yeno!!)@RealCFrampton's face 😂 a true diplomat 🥊 #LopezConlan pic.twitter.com/2tJ7Fdjm3v
— Niamh Campbell (@niamh_journo) May 27, 2023
There was to be no after party for Conlan however, who endured a torrid evening on home soil.
Lopez, who is from Mexico, defended the IBF featherweight title he won last year when he fought Josh Warrington in Leeds.
Michael Conlan suffers bruising defeat in Belfast
Conlan took repetitive heavy blows before his trainer Adam Booth decided to throw in the towel in the fifth round after Conlan had been knocked to the floor of the ring.
The defeat marks the second time Conlan has been beaten in his professional career, having been knocked out in a title fight against Leigh Wood in Nottingham last year. His record now stands at 18-2.
It has been a difficult and disappointing week for Irish boxing after Katie Taylor was defeated at the 3 Arena against Chantelle Cameron.
The loss was the first of Taylor's career, however a rematch looks on the cards for later this year.
Conlan, meanwhile, is now at a crossroads in his career and his next decision will be awaited with interest.
SEE ALSO: A Night That Enhanced Katie Taylor's Greatness, Instead Of Diminishing It
20 May 2023; Katie Taylor, and her mum Bridget Taylor, after her defeat to Chantelle Cameron in their undisputed super lightweight championship fight at the 3Arena in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
