By Ian S Palmer
Northern Ireland’s Michael Conlan is in action on Saturday, August 15th when he takes on southpaw Sofiane Takoucht of France in a 10-round featherweight tilt. The fight comes from BT Sport studio in Stratford, England and can be seen on BT in the UK while fans in America can catch it on ESPN ans ESPN Deportes with those in Canada able to see it on TSN 3. The unbeaten Conlan last fought in December when he beat Vladimir Nikitin by a 10-round unanimous decision. Takoucht was last in action in October when he was stopped by Josh Warrington in the second round in a shot at the IBF Featherweight Title.
The 28-year-old Conlan of Belfast carries around a perfect record of 13-0 with 7 Kos. He enjoyed a fine amateur career as he participated in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and was a quarter finalist at the 2011 European Championships and 2011 World Amateur Championships. He won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and a silver medal at the 2013 European Championships. He reached the final eight of the 2013 World Amateur Championships.
He then won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and both the 2015 European Championships and World Amateur Championships before participating in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Conlan also fought in the World Series of Boxing from 2012 to 2015. As an amateur, Conlan lost to Andrew Selby three times as well as Jason Moloney, Robeisy Ramirez and Vladimir Nikitin (twice) and beat the likes of Khalid Yafai, Nordine Oubaali (twice), Jose Diaz and Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
Conlan turned pro back in 2017 and has 81 rounds of experience since. He stands 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 69-inch reach and has decent power with a current knockout ratio of 54 per cent. Since turning pro he’s captured the vacant WBO Inter-Continental, and vacant WBA Inter-Continental Featherweight Titles. Conlan has fine boxing skills and can also switch to southpaw at times and be just as effective.
He’s not the biggest puncher in the division and has gone the distance in three of his last four fights. Conlan’s still learning the ropes as a pro and hasn’t faced a top contender as of yet with his biggest wins coming over the likes of Kenny Guzman, David Berna, Jason Cunningham, Ruben Garcia Hernandez and Diego Alberto Ruiz. He then avenged his controversial amateur defeats to Nikitin in December.
As for Takoucht, he’s 34 years old and enters the ring with a record of 35-4-1 with 13 Kos. He’s not the hardest hitter with a current knockout ratio of 32.5 per cent and he’s only been stopped once, which came in his last bout to Warrington. Takoucht’s other three defeats came at the hands of Alexander Miskirtchian by majority and split decision in 2014 and 2011and to Guillame Frenois by unanimous decision for the French Featherweight title in 2009.
His draw was a two-round technical affair with Ivan Ruiz Morote in 2013 in defence of his European Union Featherweight Crown. Takoucht has an unlisted height and reach so we can’t compare him in size to Conlan. He’s boxed 246 rounds since turning pro in 2006 and along the way has won the IBF International Featherweight and European Union Featherweight Belts. He’s not really known outside of France and Europe and has fought limited opponents, many who had losing records when they entered the ring. He’ll be taking a step up in class again against Conlan.
Prediction…
Takoucht is a veteran but was blown out in his last fight. He’d been fighting a steady stream of Grade B opponents until then but has won eight of his last nine bouts. This is basically another opponent to pad Conlan’s record and he should be able to earn a victory. However, sooner or later he’s going to have to start taking on some stiffer opposition if he hopes to land a world title shot in the near future.
