LEIGH WOOD scored one of the most incredible comeback KOs imaginable by smashing Mick Conlan out of the ring when he seemed just seconds from defeat.
The Nottingham star, 33, seemed about to lose his WBA featherweight strap on the scorecards – in front of his home arena crowd – after being dropped sickeningly in the opening round.
Michael Conlan fell through the ropes and out of the ring in concerning scenes after a brilliant fight with Leigh Wood
Wood beat the Irishman in an epic fight and having been seconds from defeat in the early rounds
Wood’s celebrations were muted as he expressed his concern for Conlan – who was later said to be responsive backstage
But – in round 12 with just a few seconds left on the clock – he unleashed a sensational final volley that drove Conlan out of the ring leaving him needing medical attention.
Celebrations were muted after the bell as Conlan was carried out on a stretcher.
It was later reported that the Irishman, 31, was thankfully awake and responding backstage before being taken to a local hospital.
Wood said at the end: “Thank you to all the fans. All the Irish travelling fans. First of all I just want to say I hope Michael is OK.
“I can’t celebrate until I know he’s alright. My thoughts are with him at the minute.”
At the start of the fight, Wood leaped over the top rope and into the action with the support of his huge home crowd.
And he bounced straight onto the front foot, as the aggressor, with Conlan keen to counterpunch.
A couple of whipped Wood right hooks sounded punishing but Conlan seemed to catch them on his arms and gloves.
Then just as the bell rang Conlan detonated a life-changing left hand from the southpaw stance that floored Wood violently.
Incredibly the defending champ beat the count and walked back to his stool but Conlan seemed seconds away from victory.
Wood was in a horrible state when the second started, barely standing up but bravely swinging on instinct.
Michael Conlan (left) and Leigh Wood do battle
Wood suffered a first round knockdown and looked close to defeat
Conlan grazed him with another left hook and his legs turned to jelly. But suddenly a gaping cut was oozing over Conlan’s left eye that needed attention at every interval and threatened to ooze into his eye.
It was a miracle Wood was still standing at the end of the second and even more stunning that he ended the session hurling big shots of his own that pinned Conlan brielfly onto the ropes.
Wood’s nose was a bloody mess by the time the third started and he was dabbing and clearing to try to save his breathing.
The fifth was a slugfest that spilled into a bloodbath as dozens of punches and head bumps left a seeping wound in the Englishman’s eyebrow.
Round six was undestandably scrappy as the fighters tried to grab their breath and recover from the blood-soaked first minutes of non-stop action.
Wood regained his legs by the half-way point and he was still throwing heavy shots at Conlan’s face and ribs.
The seventh was spectacular again as both brave gladiators gave their all. Wood looked for concussive blows while Conlan bobbed and weaved and slashed away at angles. It was magnificent boxing.
Wood had success in round eight as Conlan’s engine started to flag under the constant pressure.
The pair were engaged in a thrilling war in Nottingham
But then he used that pressure against him by walking him on to a peach that had the green army roaring.
It was breathless brilliant stuff, occasionally a boxing match but more often an all-out battle with two men desperate not to disappoint their audience.
Wood started round nine with his right hand too low so Conlan cracked him with two more left hands, then tagged him a handful of times with rasping jabs.
The pair spent the whole tenth round in the pocket, joined at the forehead slashing away at each other’s body.
It seemed Wood was landing the bigger shots but some of Conlan’s defending was masterful as he slipped and slid out of range by milimetres.
Round 11 was sensational and ended in controversy, Conlan hit the deck but insisted it was a slip. But referee Steve Gray gave a count Team Conlan was furious about.
Irishman Conlan suffered a nasty cut above his left eye
And then in something out of Rocky, Wood unloaded and knocked Conlan backwards out of the ring.
The Irishman vanished between the ropes and collapsed backwards into the VIP seats.
The crowd went wild but Wood urged the crowd to contain themselves while medics could reach the stricken ace.
Conlan, who looked exhausted in the final round, was taken off the arena floor on a stretcher.
He was dealt with by paramedics but was said to be responsive and awake backstage before being taken to hospital.
