WATCH: Rob Tebbutt's backing Michael Conlan to deliver the goods in Belfast

As Michael Conlan gears up for his IBF featherweight world title bout with Luis Alberto Lopez this weekend, our resident boxing expert tells us why he feels the Mexican's belt will be staying in Belfast.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to hear Rob Tebbutt's tips for all three of this weekend's world title fights.

Michael Conlan will seek to become the latest British world champion when he takes on Luis Alberto Lopez this weekend, a fighter who we saw overcome Josh Warrington back in December.

He ripped the IBF title from his hands that night, but I actually really like Conlan in this fight, and feel that he will have learned from his mistakes against Leigh Wood in that classic fight last year.

He has responded well on the back of that defeat, overcoming Miguel Marriaga and Karim Guerfi in his two fights since, and I am backing his skill and pedigree to edge out Luis Alberto Lopez this weekend.

Conlan is going to be roared on by a vociferous home crowd, and I feel he will prevail victorious by way of a 'Decision', which is available with bet365 at 7/5.

Better yet, if you feel that the bout is going to be as close as I do, then you can get 8/1 on Conlan winning this one via a 'Split Decision' - let's not forget he has home advantage, albeit he is the challenger for the title.

I think there is good value in that bet given everything is pointing towards it being a very close fight, particularly during the second half.

If you are actually backing the champion to retain his title then, for me, that will likely happen in the second half of the fight.

We have seen Conlan razor sharp in the early parts of his bouts so far, he has that amateur pedigree, but he has been guilty of slowing down a tad from the midway point onwards, and we all know he came oh so close to becoming a world champion against Wood in Nottingham before being stopped in the final round.

If you believe that something similar could occur in Northern Ireland on Saturday then you can get 5/1 on a Lopez stoppage between 'Rounds 7-12'.

But for me, my pick for this fight is Conlan to become IBF featherweight champion of the world, which is priced at 7/5.
 

Luis Alberto Lopez v Michael Conlan
Bet Boosts >>

Bet Builder:
Fight result: Michael Conlan
Michael Conlan to score 1 or More knockdowns
Over 8.5 Rounds
Was 7/1 >> Now 8/1

Bet Builder:
Fight Result: Luis Alberto Lopez
Luis Alberto Lopez to score 1 or More knockdowns
Under 9.5 Rounds
Was 9/2 >> Now 5/1

View all available Bet Boosts for Luis Alberto Lopez v Michael Conlan
 

Rob Tebbutt's Full Weekend Boxing Preview

Boxing News' Rob Tebbutt provides his picks for five of this weekends biggest bouts, including three world title showdowns across the United Kingdom.
 

View the latest odds for Luis Alberto Lopez v Michael Conlan

Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.