Leigh Wood comes back from the abyss to KO Michael Conlan

A day before they met in the ring, Michael Conlan, the decorated amateur, had told Leigh Wood, the defending champion, that he was going to, “Fu## him up.”

Conlan wasn’t kidding.

The fight looked over seconds after Conlan landed an overhand left from his hometown of Belfast in the opening round. The blow caused Wood to collapse on his back. He somehow got up, clear-eyed but unsteady.

The punch had weakened his legs but not his heart. Wood,33, was the everyman who had earned everything in his boxing career the hard way.

Conlan would find success with his long left all night – while Wood would find a way to take it and keep coming.

The battering continued in round two. Wood was staggered but remained upright.

He was outgunned and outclassed.

What could he do? Take it and keep trying.

Wood ate sharp jabs in round four.

Conlan was boxing beautifully. Wood couldn’t duck fast enough, but he still moved forward, eating punches but applying steady pressure. He tried to work the body but paid for it.

Speed kills and Conlan was killing Wood with his right jab and hook.

Wood did better in round five, but Conlan was still in control – his bodywork relentless. Wood raised his hand after the round. Had he won the heat? No matter, the Nottingham tough guy was starting to believe. He upped the ante in round seven, forcing Conlan into a firefight. He scored, but Conlan punctuated the stanza with another left. 

Conlan buzzed Wood with counter shots in rounds eight and nine. Wood walked after him, but another left shook him up. Conlan did even better in round 10, but Wood refused to give in, forcing Conlan into the ropes and firing punch after punch.

In his corner before round 11, Conlan looked winded. Wood started well, but as expected, Conlan fought back. Out of nowhere, Wood connected with a left hook that floored Conlan.

The minute rest did little for Conlan. Wood attacked him immediately in the 12th and final round. Conlan ducked and weaved, but a wicked right hand caught him on the temple – causing Conlan lose consciousness and fall through the ropes.  

Wood had landed the perfect punch to end the fight in brutal fashion. Happily, Conlan was OK and hours after being knocked out, wanting a rematch.

Of course, he does.

Wood’s face showed the beating he had taken.

But that was the only way he could win.

Fighters are different beings.

Their guts are deeper.

They dig and dig.

And live to fight another day.