Leigh Wood turned a one-sided fight into a classic.
The English featherweight contender seemed to be well behind on the scorecards when he put Michael Conlan through the ropes and stopped him midway through the 12th and final round Saturday in Nottingham, England, Wood’s hometown.
The fight will surely be remembered as one of the most-dramatic comebacks in British boxing history.
Conlan, a two-time Irish Olympian with polished skills, outclassed what appeared to be an inferior opponent for most of the fight.
The Southpaw from Belfast put Wood down with an overhand left a split second before the bell to end Round 1 and couldn’t miss when he threw the punch the rest of the fight.
And that wasn’t his only effective weapon, as he landed an assortment of clean, hard punches – including many to the body – from beginning to end. He also proved to be an elusive target, making Wood’s night even more frustrating.
However, Wood demonstrated in spectacular fashion that perseverance can pay off.
He had a big moment in the final seconds of an action-packed Round 11, when a grazing left hand sent Conlan to the canvas for what was instantaneously a controversial knockdown that gave the hometown fighter hope.
Then, midway through a give-and-take 12th round, one punch amid a flurry hurt Conlan badly and he crashed through the ropes. Referee Steve Gray had a look at Conlan over the top rope to determine whether he could continue but realized quickly that he was finished and stopped the fight at 1:25, sending the crowd into a tizzy.
Boxing Junkie had Conlan leading 106-102 – eight rounds to three – at the time of the stoppage, which allowed Wood (26-2, 16 KOs) to retain his secondary WBA title. Leo Santa Cruz is the sanctioning body’s 126-pound champion.
Medical personnel tended to Conlan as he lay on the Nottingham Arena floor and he was ultimately taken by stretcher to a hospital, leaving those watching worldwide unclear about his condition. It was later learned that he was conscious and stable when he arrived.
Wood refused to celebrate the greatest victory of his career out of respect for Conlan.
“I can’t celebrate until I know he’s alright,” he said.
If ever a fighter deserved a rematch, it’s Conlan, who turned in an outstanding performance for 11-plus rounds in the biggest test of his career. However, Wood probably will have his eye on a major title after his stirring victory.
He certainly earned it.
