Michael Conlan vs Diego Alberto Ruiz Odds & Pick

• Conlan vs Ruiz goes Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 5:00 pm EST
• Will Conlan have a triumphant homecoming victory?
• Will Ruiz shock the world and make the most of his replacement opportunity?

Michael Conlan vs Diego Alberto Ruiz emanates from Falls Park in Belfast this weekend. The Saturday card will be broadcast on ESPN+ and both are coming in with solid momentum. The 10 round featherweight bout is on a card that is a co-promotion between Top Rank and MTK Global.

Conlan vs Ruiz is one of three title fights on this top-notch night of Irish prizefighting. Conlan has an unblemished record and won 11 straight while Ruiz is riding a 10 fight winning streak. A couple of inter-continental titles hang in the balance when these two featherweight fighters lock horns.

Conlan vs Ruiz Odds

*Odds taken 07/29/19

Conlan vs Ruiz was not the initial bout slated for Conlan’s homecoming. Michael Conlan was scheduled in a grudge match against Vladimir Nikitin who scored a controversial W over Conlan at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Russian was forced to withdraw after a bicep tear and Ruiz stepped up to take his place. This fight doesn’t have nearly the same storyline but it’s a great tilt for those who appreciate the sweet science. Ruiz has a lot working in his favor but I see Conlan putting on a clinic this weekend.

Conlan Triumphs at Home

Ruiz has more than twice the prior experience that Conlan has. Ruiz has collected South American and Latino titles at Super Bantamweight before winning the vacant World Boxing Council Latino Silver Feather Title in his last outing. Conlan brings the WBO Inter-Continental featherweight title with him to the ring on the heels of his first successful defense of it. The WBA Inter-Continental featherweight title is vacant and the winner will also leave with that belt as well.

Conlan is certainly not overlooking his opponent. In fact, he sees Ruiz as a much tougher challenge than the opponent he was initially matched with. Conlan has a level of pop culture notoriety behind him as he returns to Ireland. Michael Conlan appeared on Celebrity Apprentice Ireland and has a brazen style of presenting himself that has made him polarizing yet popular.

Conlan’s status as one of Ireland’s most successful amateur boxers (Olympic medal and world championship) coupled with his present success as a pro has gotten many Irish compatriots behind him. Both laymen and celebrities alike.

Finn Balor supporting Michael Conlan pic.twitter.com/DbdtQ5lUv2

— Fightful Wrestling (@FightfulWrestle) March 18, 2019

Ruiz has never been stopped and both men have KO rates below 60-percent. I think it’s a fair prediction to make when I say that this prizefight goes to the judge’s scorecards. Despite all of the hoopla that surrounds Conlan, there is definitely substance to validate the notoriety. There’s steak along with the sizzle, as it were. Conlan does have a resume that speaks for itself.

⭐ Michael Conlan ⭐
▫️ 27-year-old Featherweight
▫️ Olympic bronze medallist
▫️ Former World Amateur Champion
▫️ 10-0 (6 KOs) as a professional
▫️ Has aspirations to become a multi-division World Champion
▫️ Headlines Madison Square Garden Theater this Sunday night pic.twitter.com/oZu3UNfQun

— BoxNation (@boxnationtv) March 15, 2019

One of the big focal points here is the amount of international experience each man has. This is Ruiz’s first time fighting outside of his native Argentina while Conlan has fought in Australia, New York, and Nevada. Michael Conlan has been under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden a few times so he has experience in high-pressure situations.

Conlan vs Ruiz Tale of the Tape

Conlan vs Ruiz seems like yet another chapter in The Conlan Revolution (which Michael hashtags a fair bit on his social media). I wager the hashtag will persist after August 3rd.

Pick: Conlan (-3000)