Gedling boxer Leigh Wood has retained his WBA featherweight title after producing a brutal last-round knockout of Michael Conlan.
Conlan was sent through the ropes by Wood’s powerful punch and on to the floor.
Wood had been losing before the knockout and himself been knocked down in the first round.
But the Gedling boxer showed amazing desire, despite suffering a cut over his eye in the fourth round, as both men continued to trade blows in a hugely entertaining clash.
Wood gradually started to work his way back into the fight, aided by some great shots to Conlan’s body, before the away fighter was judged to have been knocked down in the 11th, despite arguments from his corner, who told referee Steve Gray their fighter had slipped.
But, after one minute 25 seconds of the final round, the fight ended in dramatic circumstances. Wood caught Conlan with a glancing blow to the head. Conlan dropped his arms, looking exhausted, and Wood landed the knockout blow.
Conlan was later carried from the arena on a stretcher and taken to hospital.
Wood stopped his celebrations while Wood received immediate medical treatment.
He told broadcaster Dazn after the fight: “I just hope Michael is all right; I can’t celebrate until I know he is.
“He is so tough and it was a bad knockout so I just want to see he is all right.”
Conlan later gave an update on his condition from hospital hours later, saying his CT scans were clear.
He later tweeted: “Definitely want a rematch.”
