Michael Conlan

Leigh Wood overcame an early knockdown to storm back to finish Michael Conlan in the 12th round and retain his WBA featherweight title Saturday.

Wood was getting tagged in the 11th, but he found the strength and courage under pressure to land a left hook that sent Conlan to the canvas. Wood was full of fire in the 10th round, giving Conlan a torrid time when the Irishman was sat on the ropes. Wood showed plenty of aggression in Rounds 5 and 6, but the cleaner and sharper punches came from the challenger. But the fight turned in the fourth round as Wood fought back, attacking with flurries of punches. Wood looked dazed for much of the second round, getting caught with clean left hooks as Conlan stamped his authority on the fight. For Wood (26-2, 16 KOs), 33, it was another late, dramatic win after he produced an upset to stop China's Xu Can in the final round last year in his first world title fight.

Michael Conlan says he is "devastated and heartbroken" after being knocked out in the final round of his WBA featherweight title bout with Leigh Wood.

The WBA world featherweight title was at stake but as the aftermath of the fight showed, it wasn't the be-all and end-all of the night.

Wood was in another type of limbo; a winner of a great fight, a world champion, and he refused to celebrate. It was a combination of fatigue, hurt and the realisation of knowing, from a life in rings and gyms, that the fight was lost. It was ruled a knockdown; Conlan was fuming, Wood ecstatic and then the bell sounded. At the end of the fight he was exhausted and “fatigue was kicking in”, which he said at 6am in a defiant message on social media. Conlan was fighting a losing battle against Wood in the 85 seconds of the final round. The water was in his own corner, it was thrown at him by his cornermen each time he went back at the end of a round. It was raw drama and then the bell sounded for the last round. Conlan tried to finish the injured Wood. It was difficult to watch, but Wood is a tough man, a man shaped by rejection and hard, hard work in his role far from the glamour. At the end of the 10th it was clear that Wood was trailing, bleeding and could still be hurt, but he was in the fight. Back in the ring, Wood was bruised, confused and cut, and had fought too many rounds on his boxing instincts. Wood was out as he landed flat on his back, his head crashing off the canvas. Wood can finally celebrate and everybody witness to the epic fight can breathe.

The 29-year-old tweeted a message in the early hours of the morning after he required medical assistance at ringside before being stretchered out of the ...

In the early hours, Conlan tweeted: "I'm all good folks, cheers for the messages. Respect @itsLeighWood congrats again, your a tough f***er but let’s run it back." Up on the cards & 11th was a slip, fatigue was kicking in & I was caught on the temple with a good shot I didn’t see.

Leigh Wood produced one of the most stunning comebacks ever seen in a boxing ring as he retained his WBA featherweight crown with a gutsy last-round ...

Vazquez had been down in the third session as the job looked too much for him, and he was finally put out of his misery two rounds later. There was a case for Rubio's corner perhaps rescuing him in the later rounds, but after enduring a one-sided beating, Rubio made it to the scorecards, where he was well beaten. In the ninth stanza, the ferocity of earlier rounds was absent as Conlan got behind his jab and showed glimpses of his amateur pedigree. Caoimhin Agyarko was too good for Juan Carlos Rubio as he dominated the Mexican from start to finish. Conlan started superbly as he floored Wood with a well-placed left hand at the end of the opening round. Wood celebrated frantically, but his jovial mood was soon watered down as he demonstrated brilliant sportsmanship to show compassion for his opponent.

The talking is over - now it is time for Michael Conlan to try and deliver a world title. The Belfast man was bidding to become WBA world featherweight champion ...

Was looking to hold on. Conlan floors Wood as the bell sounds at the end of the first round! Leigh Wood makes his way to the ring. Conlan rocks Wood again in the second, the champion just about manages to stay on his feet. He forced Conlan onto the ropes for most of the round, cutting off any distance for Conlan to operate. Then midway through the round Conlan appears to catch Wood with a body shot that had the champion reeling a bit. Conlan finishes the round with a couple of body shots to end strongly. Wood finding most of his success by forcing Conlan onto the back foot, but the Belfast fighter is working the champion's body to good effect. Conlan lands some big shots on Wood who then responds, forcing the challenger onto the ropes and connecting with some heavy shots of his own. Conlan stifling the threat of Wood by using his jab and controlling the distance. Fair play to Wood for his muted celebrations, his primary concerns for the challenger. Good round for Wood who comes back strongly at the end of the 10th.

Michael Conlan vs Leigh Wood LIVE: Fight stream, latest updates and how to watch online tonight.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Wood: “I hope Michael’s alright. Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan Still, the hometown fighter continued to press forward valiantly. Conlan looked low but threw a left hand over the top to send Wood crashing to the canvas, and the resilience required by the Englishman to make it back to his feet was only built upon as the bout progressed.

Wood will make a first defence of his newly-gained WBA featherweight crown against undefeated Irish star Michael Conlan in front of a raucous home crowd in ...

I’m coming to get the job done and look good doing it.” I’m very confident and very relaxed, we’re here in Nottingham and it’s time to go, there’s not much more to say other than I really can’t wait for Saturday night. It’ll make it all the sweeter when I beat him." "Same with both of the defeats I’ve suffered, I went away, changed my team and improved as a fighter. The main event ring walks are expected to take place between 10:00 and 10:30pm in the UK with the fight taking place on domestic soil with the overall main card set to begin at 7pm. Wood earned the title with a huge upset victory over Xu Can last year at Fight Camp and is now looking to take the biggest fights in the division.

To date, Michael Conlan has used each professional fight to work on aspects of his game — but tonight against Leigh Wood with the WBA featherweight title on ...

“I started seeing things last year in the gym start to play out,” said Booth. “His fights to this point have really been practices. “Even in the Doheny fight last time out, it was about practicing certain things while keeping control. We know what Mick is, so now it’s time to win every single moment.”

W. ood vs Conlan - LIVE! Leigh Wood produced the most extraordinary comeback to retain his WBA world featherweight title on Saturday night. Defending the belt ...

Eddie Hearn added he was sitting up and talking as he awaited CT scans. Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith later confirmed that he was conscious and stable as he arrived at hospital. Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith reports that Conlan was conscious and stable as he arrived at hospital.

Michael Conlan was taken to hospital after falling out of the ring in the 12th round of his WBA world featherweight title bout against Leigh Wood; ...

If there was any controversy over the issue, it was rendered a moot point as Wood closed the show in spectacular fashion, one minute and 25 seconds into the last round. He boosted his hopes in the 11th with a left that momentarily floored Conlan, whose insistence he had slipped rather than being knocked over was overlooked by Gray as he administered the eight-count. The CT scan is all clear.

It followed a devastating punch midway through the final round which saw the Belfast boxer tipped out of the ring. Earlier, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie ...

Later, Wood tweeted: “You are and will be a champ. I hope he's alright." "Watched the fight, I definitely need to run it back. "I am just thinking about Mick at the minute. Updating concerned well-wishers on Twitter in the early hours of Sunday morning, Conlan tweeted: “Im all good folks, cheers for the messages. Im all good folks, cheers for the messages.

Live updates and TV details from the Motorpoint Arena as Nottingham's Leigh Wood defends his featherweight world title against Belfast's Michael Conlan.

The less said about the queue to get a drink the better...... Agyarko needs more of that. The fight goes the distance in what was a competitive middleweight bout. Wood is still in trouble here. Both men are in the ring and are being announced. Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan - Round one What a crazy round! The Nottingham man is staying aggressive, with the fans feeling like he's ahead - but he's most certainly not. Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan - Round two Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan - Round nine Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan - Round ten Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan - Round eleven

Wood was defending the title he won from Xu Can in Eddie Hearn's back garden last summer as he welcomed Conlan to his hometown of Nottingham.

Wood landed a right hook early in the fourth session as he pinned Conlan on the ropes and enjoyed his best spell to date. The champion gave himself a fighting chance when he dropped Conlan in the penultimate round and he finished the job in the 12th, sending the Belfast native out of the ring. Wood was dropped in the first round in front of his home fans in Nottingham and Conlan proceeded to produce a classy display until the latter stages.

Leigh Wood knocked Michael Conlan out of the ring to snatch an astonishing come-from-behind KO win in the final round of their crazy fight on Saturday.

Michael Conlan is “conscious, stable and talking” after being taken to hospital in the aftermath of a brutal 12th-round knockout by Leigh Wood in Saturday ...

Still needing a knockout to retain his belt, Wood went for broke in the 12th, sealing one of the most dramatic comebacks you will ever witness inside a boxing ring. He impressed with his slick performance for much of the night, before being knocked down by a spirited Wood at the end of the 11th round, with Conlan and trainer Adam Booth both insisting that he had slipped. Conlan was sent through the ropes by a massive right hand from the defending WBA champion in a hugely dramatic finish to an enthralling Fight of the Year contender at Motorpoint Arena, with the bout immediately waved off amid concern over his condition at ringside.

Conlan was said to be 'conscious and stable' in hospital after being sent through the ropes in the final round.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The Irishman was fitted with an oxygen mask and taken out of the arena in an ambulance, with Wood saying: “I hope Michael’s alright. Michael Conlan (WBA featherweight title) Leigh Wood (C) def. I just can’t get Mick off my mind.” The enthralling contest came to a head early in the 12th and final round, when Wood sent Conlan tumbling through the ropes with a vicious knockout.

Leigh Wood recovered from an early knockdown to retain his WBA featherweight title with a remarkable 12th-round stoppage of Michael Conlan after a ferocious ...

Conlan proved his pedigree in the last few seconds of the opening round in an electric atmosphere. Wood looked to unload towards the end of the seventh before eating yet another spiteful left hand moments before the bell but he had his best round in the eighth, with a nasty right hand seeming to buckle Conlan, whose head was rocked back and led to him staying out of range in the ninth. He was able to get back to his feet but was arguably saved by the bell and he was left hanging on in the second round when another bruising left Wood groping to hang on to Conlan, who was cut over his left eye following an accidental clash of heads.

Conlan required medical assistance after being stopped by Leigh Wood in the 12th round at the Motorpoint Arena.

We would love to celebrate but our thoughts are with Michael Conlan right now." "But I am just thinking about Mick at the minute. I hope he's okay." I kept going to the last bell. "I hope Michael is okay. I can't really celebrate until I find out he is okay.

Wood's emotional celebrations at retaining his WBA featherweight title became muted as his rival was attended to by medics.

He boosted his hopes in the 11th with a left that momentarily floored Conlan, whose insistence he had slipped rather than being knocked over was overlooked by Gray as he administered the eight-count. If there was any controversy over the issue, it was rendered a moot point as Wood closed the show in spectacular fashion, one minute and 25 seconds into the last round. Wood rose on unsteady legs and was arguably saved by the bell as a headline fight in front of his hometown fans threatened to turn sour.

The Irish fighter was sent through the ropes in the final round as Wood retained the WBA featherweight title.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Wood said after his victory: “I hope Michael’s alright. Michael Conlan was confirmed to be “conscious and stable” in hospital following his knockout defeat by Leigh Wood on Saturday night.

Wood's emotional celebrations at retaining his WBA featherweight title became muted as his rival was attended to by medics.

He boosted his hopes in the 11th with a left that momentarily floored Conlan, whose insistence he had slipped rather than being knocked over was overlooked by Gray as he administered the eight-count. If there was any controversy over the issue, it was rendered a moot point as Wood closed the show in spectacular fashion, one minute and 25 seconds into the last round. Wood rose on unsteady legs and was arguably saved by the bell as a headline fight in front of his hometown fans threatened to turn sour.

Leigh Wood produces a brutal last-round knockout of Michael Conlan to retain his WBA featherweight title amid worrying scenes.