Leigh Wood comes back and knocks Michael Conlan out of the ring to win

The WBA “regular” featherweight title bout between Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan took a scary turn in round 12, as Conlan was taken to the hospital.

Michael Conlan was moments away from becoming a world boxing champion, but one right hand from defending WBA “regular” featherweight champion, Leigh Wood, changed everything.

Conlan (16-1, 8 KOs) knocked Wood down at the bell to end round 1 of their title bout on March 12. He controlled most of the fight, but the tide changed slightly as the war went on.

Although Wood was the hometown favorite, the crowd at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England, was split between Wood and Conlan. Irish fans showed up in force to support Belfast’s Conlan.

Conlan was in great spirits when he entered the ring before the fight to Jimi Hendrix’s rendition of “All Along the Watchtower.” He was playing air guitar and having fun.

Wood won most of round 1, but a Conlan overhand left from the southpaw stance caught Wood on the chin at the bell. Wood got up but was in trouble.

Conlan dominated most of a brutal fight, but Wood got his second wind when he needed it most. Conlan almost had Wood out in round 2. His left hand continued to find Wood’s jaw, but Wood proved resilient.

Both Conlan and Wood had cuts around their eyes from repeated head clashes, but Wood showed signs of life in round 10. He likely won the round but was probably down on the cards.

Leigh Wood knocked Michael Conlan out, and Conlan frighteningly fell out of the ring

Wood (26-2, 16 KOs) dropped Conlan in round 11 with a left hand, but it was a questionable knockdown. Conlan appeared off-balance, and it was a pushing shot.

Still, it counted as a point for Wood, who looked like he needed a miracle to get back into this fight so late.

Shockingly, he found it.

Nearly halfway into round 12, Wood caught Conlan with a right hand on the ropes. Conlan was out on his feet, and his body went limp.

Wood followed up with a quick flurry as gravity pulled an unconscious Conlan through the ropes. He crashed headfirst to the floor outside of the ring.

Wood retained his title via round 12 KO at 1:25 into the round.

Wood demonstrated class and empathy as he gestured for his hometown fans to quiet down as medical staff tended to Conlan. Cameras cut away from the injured Conlan, but DAZN commentators stated Conlan was quickly taken to the hospital by EMTs.

There’s no word on Conlan’s current condition.

From a statistical standpoint, Conlan was winning the fight. According to CompuBox stats, Conlan out-landed Wood 171-135. Wood threw 72 more punches, but Conlan was much more accurate with a 40.2 percent connect rating.

However, Wood found the right punch when he needed it most. Here’s wishing Conlan a speedy recovery after a gutsy performance.