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
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 7
“Don’t load up too much, put the shots together,” Agyarko is told by his coach.
Agyarko is straight into the middle of the ring, throwing a right straight. The London-born Northern Irishman misses with a couple of wild hooks, however. He’s not quite heeding his coach’s advice.
Double-jab, right hand lands for Agyarko, though! That’s more like it.
But he loads up again by winging a left hook while leaning backwards, and is then caught with a short left shot from Rubio!
It appears to wobble Agyarko slightly, and Rubio connects with another left hand that has his opponent moving awkwardly.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 6
Agyarko is starting to establish authority here.
He backs up Rubio but waits for his moment to throw the right shots.
He times a right hand as Rubio is throwing, then varies his punches with the Mexican against the ropes.
It seems that Rubio is just getting warn down gradually now.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 5
Clubbing left hook lands for Agyarko!
He leans forward slightly with his hands low and chin out, baiting Rubio to throw.
Agyarko bounces now before ramming a short right straight into the face of his opponent.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 4
Rubio lands a jab but misses with a left straight as he steps in.
Agyarko backs up the Mexican now. Both men land punches at the same time, with Agyarko’s seemingly more powerful...
Lots of feinting from Agyarko, who then connects with a looping left hook. Rubio lands his own left, though.
Agyarko ends the round on top, however, coming alive with some spiteful straights as a tired-looking Rubio stumbles a little in the corner!
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 3
Big counter left straight from Rubio! It knocks back Agyarko slightly! Perhaps that was more due to Agyarko’s balance, or lack thereof, than Rubio’s power.
Now the Mexican connects with an overhand right after moving his head to the left of the centre line.
Agyarko goes southpaw and throws a left hook to the head, then one to the body.
He’s back in an orthodox stance and misses with a somewhat wild uppercut.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 2
Rubio has fast hands, which he shows off here, moments after Agyarko is warned by his coach about the Mexican’s speed.
That said, Agyarko is not slow himself.
He lands a rapid left hook on the angle then demonstrates some terrific head movement to lean back and away from a shot.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Agyarko vs Rubio – Round 1
Southpaw Rubio suffered his first pro defeat in his most recent bout, so it will be interesting to see how the 23-year-old responds here.
Agyarko, 25, is on the front foot early on! He backs up Rubio against the ropes and throws a few heavy shots. Rubio counters with a stinging left hand, however!
Each middleweight is stepping on the other’s lead foot a little in these early exchanges, such can be the dynamic of opposing stances. Agyarko has already tripped a couple of times.
He lands a tidy right uppercut, though!
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
The WBA International middleweight title is on the line next!
Undefeated champion Caoimhin Agyarko (10-0, 7 KOs) defends against Juan Carlos Rubio (18-1, 9 KOs) in the co-main event.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Terri Harper def. Yamila Belen Abellaneda via unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 99-91).
Harper wins the vacant WBA Intercontinental women’s lightweight title!
A great response by the 25-year-old to her devastating knockout loss last time out – just four months ago.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
Harper vs Abellaneda – Round 10
Final round. Abellaneda comes forward with a right hand, then the women clinch against the fence.
Harper is still southpaw. She lands a couple of decent shots in close.
A sharp counter left just connects for the Briton, then another powerful one!
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