Sport

Threats exchanged as Michael Conlan and Leigh Wood go head-to-head before Nottingham rumble

Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan go head-to-head in Nottingham yesterday. Picture: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan go head-to-head in Nottingham yesterday. Picture: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan go head-to-head in Nottingham yesterday. Picture: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
By Andy Watters

THREATS were whispered as Michael Conlan and Leigh Wood went head-to-head at an intense press conference in Nottingham yesterday.

What was said? Only the fighters know but Conlan announced loud and clear that, when the talking is done and the fight is finished, his hand will be raised as the new featherweight champion of the world.

“I’m ready to go,” said Conlan.

“My confidence comes from my preparation and there’s not much more to say other than I can’t wait for Saturday night. I know what kind of performance is coming and this is the most relaxed and confident I’ve ever been coming into a fight. I’m coming to his backgarden (nodded in Wood’s direction) and I have to rip the belt off him.

“Everybody is here to see him, I’ve got fans coming but I’ve fought in front of thousands already so it’s nothing new to me. I’m just here to do a job and I hope he’s the best Leigh Wood there’s ever been because that will make it all the sweeter when I beat him. I’m expecting a fantastic performance from myself.”

Defending champion Wood went along to cheer on Carl Froch when the Cobra ruled supreme at the Nottingham Arena. In those days he was barely scratching a living in the sport but hooking up with Ben Davison turned his career around and last summer he shocked China’s Can Xu to capture the belt he is determined to defend and then move on to challenge WBA ‘Super’ champion Leo Santa Cruz. Two-time Carl Frampton foe Santa Cruz has tipped Conlan to win tomorrow night but Wood is having none of it.

“Everything is on point,” he said.

“I’ve got the first version of Mick, he’s got the best version of me and there’ll be no excuses after the fight – may the best man win,” he said.

“I was at all the Arena fights for Carl, standing in the cheap seats, screaming my head off and now I’m headlining in the same Arena.

“This isn’t the peak, this isn’t the top, I want to go further than this and the dream is a City Ground (home of Nottingham Forest) fight and after this fight it’s happening. I’m coming, I’m feeling great, explosive, dangerous… I’m coming.”