Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan LIVE: Fight stream, latest updates and result tonight
Re-live round-by-round updates of all the action at the Nottingham Arena
Leigh Wood retained the WBA featherweight title on Saturday night in the most remarkable of boxing contests, sending Michael Conlan through the ropes in the final round after climbing off the canvas himself in the first frame.
There was plenty of support for home fighter Wood at the Nottingham Arena, and the champion started impressively, but the fight looked set to be short lived when the challenger floored Wood on the bell at the end of Round 1. 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.
Olympic bronze medalist Conlan boxed smartly throughout, picking his shots wisely with his back against the ropes, as Wood found occasional success to the body of his undefeated opponent but increasingly looked to be forcing punches and chasing Conlan, who was stunting any momentum that Wood could create. Still, the hometown fighter continued to press forward valiantly.
Wood, 33, put together his best spell late in Round 10, somehow rallying to the body of Conlan after eating a series of bruising left hooks. The champion then scored a debatable knockdown of his 30-year-old opponent – who believed he had simply slipped – in the 11th frame. 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. Conlan was subsequently taken to hospital in an ambulance and was later confirmed to be “conscious and stable”.
Re-live round-by-round updates from Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan and all the undercard action, below.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
The Irish are making themselves heard with a chorus of boos as Wood is announced.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Now here comes the champion! Wood is walking down the ramp...
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
“I’m going to destroy you, beat you to a pulp in your home city,” Conlan told Wood at the weigh-in.
The Englishman called his challenger a “skinny rat” in response.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
It’s time for the main event...
Leigh Wood (25-2, 15 KOs) steps out in front of a hometown crowd in Nottingham to defend the WBA featherweight title against the undefeated Michael Conlan (16-0, 8 KOs), who has a sizeable Irish backing tonight, too.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Caoimhin Agyarko def. Juan Carlos Rubio via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 98-92).
Agyarko retains the WBA International middleweight title and remains undefeated!
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 10
Rubio has shown great heart to stay in this contest and keep throwing throughout.
But his head is snapped back by yet another right hand. Agyarko misses with a couple but does sneak in a short left hook.
The Northern Irishman is clearly intent on a seventh straight finish, although he was warned by his corner not to take too many risks.
He won’t get the stoppage, but that’s a fine performance from Agyarko, who shows respect to Rubio after the final bell.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 9
The Killers’ “Mr Brightside” plays on the arena speakers between rounds, and the crowd continues to sing it as this penultimate frame begins.
The atmosphere is building in Nottingham; it should be crackling during the main event.
Agyarko slings a right hand straight through his opponent’s increasingly fragile guard.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 8
In Rubio’s last outing – the sole defeat of his pro career so far – the Mexican was troubled by right straights throughout.
Agyarko is going to that punch more and more here, keeping his hands low then drilling forward the right.
Rubio is tiring and is getting caught by spearing right straights and heavy left hooks! He looks a little hurt now, his left eye swelling shut!
That won’t help him defend against the right hands of Agyarko...
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