Leigh Wood showed why he is world champion and scored a dramatic 12th round technical knockout in his hard-fought clash with Michael Conlan on Saturday to retain his World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight crown in Nottingham, United Kingdom. 

Wood overcame a knockdown early in the fight and went from low to high to score a big knockout in the final round when it looked like the fight was going to the scorecards. 

The showdown between Wood and Conlan was difficult to predict because of the quality of both fighters and the way it unfolded was as unpredictable as you would think and with action that makes the fight a serious contender for best of the year.

Conlan surprised Wood with a left hook to the jaw that sent the champion to the canvas in the very first round. Fortunately for the Englishman, it happened at the end of the round and he was able to get up for the bell and stay in the fight.

The Irish was aggressive in the following rounds before a Wood who was looking to recover from the knockdown that surprised him in the opening round. But the monarch proved to be very smart and managed to improve as the rounds went by to get back into the fight. 

Wood managed to adapt to the style and started to fight better in the second half of the fight. He used his straight, jab well until in round 11 he was able to knock Conlan down with a short left.

The final round was all exchange and power punches. In the middle of the chapter, Wood managed to land a straight right that knocked Conlan unconscious and made him fall out of the ring helped by those surrounding the ring.

It was a dramatic moment for the entire Nottingham arena, which after a euphoric reaction went silent at Wood’s request to attend to the integrity of the native of Ireland. 

It was learned that Conlan arrived at the hospital conscious and stable, which is great news for boxing after the moments of drama. The WBA congratulates both fighters for such an excellent fight and thanks them for leaving everything in the ring.