MICHAEL Conlan’s world championship dream came to a brutal end when Leigh Wood recovered from being dropped in the first round to knock the Belfast man out in the last at a packed Nottingham Arena.
It all went wrong for Conlan in the last 30 seconds of the 11th. Wood, well behind on points and with his title slipping away, threw everything he had into a desperate attack and caught Conlan with a left hook that sent him to the canvas.
Conlan’s corner claimed a slip but their man began the final round on uncertain legs. Ahead on all three judges' scorecards, all he needed to do was stay on his feet to take the title but Wood trapped him on the ropes and Conlan was already unconscious and limply sagging to the floor when Wood caught him with a final shot that sent him crashing out of the ring right where his dad John and brother Jamie were seated.
Thankfully, Conlan had recovered sufficiently to respond to medical attention at ringside and was communicating with his family as he was taken to an ambulance outside Nottingham Arena.
Conlan started superbly and had recovered lost ground after defending champion Wood fought back in the middle rounds. He was well ahead on points going into the last but lion-hearted Nottingham fighter Wood completed a remarkable comeback win with a sensational finish.
