Leigh Wood knocks out Michael Conlan in 12th round to retain WBA featherweight title

Leigh Wood produced a stunning comeback win to halt Michael Conlan with a brutal knockout in the 12th round and retain his WBA «regular» world featherweight title Saturday in front of his home city crowd at the Nottingham Arena in England.

For the second successive fight, Wood clinched the victory in the final round, but the dramatic finish was overshadowed by immediate concern for Conlan, who fell backward through the ropes and off the ring apron.

Conlan was treated by medics at ringside and was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, where he was conscious and in stable condition, according to a spokesperson for Matchroom, which promoted the fight.

For Wood (26-2, 16 KOs), 33, it was another late, dramatic win after he produced an upset to stop China's Xu Can in the final round last year in his first world title fight. Wood was dominated early on, including being knocked down in the first round, but he recovered to floor Conlan late in the 11th round and resumed his attack in the 12th, knocking Conlan through the ropes at 1 minute, 25 seconds amid a barrage of punches.

«I hit him with everything, but he's so tough,» Wood said. «I'm just thinking about Mick now. It was a bad knockout.»

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn echoed Wood's concern for Conlan.

«We should be celebrating one of the best knockouts I've ever seen, but our thoughts are with Michael right now,» Hearn said.

Conlan (16-1, 8 KOs), 30, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, had controlled much of the fight and nearly took the title in the opening round. Wood did most of the pressing in the first round but was then caught by a cleverly disguised left hand by Conlan late in the round, which left him flat on his back for a count.

It was a great shot from Conlan, who had