Wood knocks out Conlan to retain WBA title

Leigh Wood is a top candidate for comeback of the year after knocking out Michael Conlan cold in the 12th and final round to retain his WBA "regular" featherweight title in Nottingham on Saturday.

Conlan fell out of the ring and head first onto the arena floor after being knocked out by Wood with 1:35 remaining. The Irishman, who was said to be "conscious and stable" after being taken to the hospital, seemed on the verge of an upset victory. He dropped Wood in the opening round and hurt him several times during the course of the fight.

However, Wood scored an 11th-round knockdown and continued to pour it on in the 12th as Conlan and his gas tank evaporated. As he backed into the ropes, Wood connected with a devastating right hand that put Conlan to sleep and a subsequent flurry sent him out of the ring. Referee Steve Gray immediately waved off the fight as paramedics rushed to assist Conlan.

Wood was instantly concerned for his opponent did his best to dampen

Referee Steve Gray instantly waved the fight off as paramedics rushed to help Conlan and Wood tried to quieten his celebrating supporters.

Northern Ireland's Conlan (16-1, 8 KOs), 30, left the arena on a stretcher but was reported to conscious and stable before he was taken via ambulance to the hospital.

“I hope Michael is all right I can’t celebrate until I know he is all right,” Wood said.

The victory was the first defense of the WBA title for Wood, who secured the belt last July 31 with a 12th-round TKO of China's Xu Can in Brentwood. But the bout started off on the wrong foot for the 33-year-old, who found himself staring at the ceiling after a huge left hand planted him flat on his back.

Wood was nearly stopped after a follow-up left hand did serious damage. He was rocked again but somehow stayed on his feet.

Conlan went back to the basics in the third round and began working behind his left jab. Wood tried to slow down Conlan with shots to the body, but he got caught again with another sharp left hand.

The fourth round was an improvement for Wood, who put pressure on Conlan, but when Conlan created space, he was able to connect with his right hook. In the fifth round, Conlan hurt Wood with a right hook to the body that forced him to clinch.

Conlan continued to have success in the sixth and seventh rounds, but Wood was starting to make baby steps, albeit Conlan was countering relentlessly.

Wood found early success in the eighth as he pinned Conlan against the ropes, but the Irishman hurt him again with a left hand.

In the tenth, it looked like Conlan was on the verge of knocking Wood out, but Wood fired back with a two-punch combination that stunned Conlan and had him looking for an escape route.

Now a clearly exhausted Conlan appeared to be in trouble to begin the 11th frame. Although he connected with a pair of lefts, Wood sent him to the floor with a left hook.

Likely in need of a knockout to win the fight, Wood got it done in dramatic fashion.