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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Leigh Curtis

Leigh Wood now focused on City Ground dream after thrilling WBA title KO win over Michael Conlan

Leigh Wood stunned the world of boxing with a thrilling and brutal knockout of Michael Conlan to secure his dream of fighting at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.

In an enthralling contest, already being dubbed a fight of the year contender, Wood was on his back in round one after a chopping left-hand put him down.

But the Gedling featherweight stormed back to defend his WBA crown to knock Conlan down in the 11th before finishing the job with a devastating right hand a round later.

Conlan tumbled through the ropes in scary scenes at ringside and left the Motorpoint Arena on a stretcher before being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

But the Irish fighter, who produced an electric performance himself, was okay after CT scans showed there was no damage to the brain.


Celebrations were muted as medical staff attended to Conlan but the pair were pictured together on Sunday morning discussing a fight that will go down in history.

Wood could now get his dream of fighting at the City Ground this summer on the back of a life-changing night.

Reflecting on an incredible night, the emotional 33-year-old and huge Reds fan said: "It has always been the dream to fight there.

"I told everybody that I was going to make it happen and Eddie Hearn had promised me that if I won the fight then it would.

"I can't wait. The Forest fans who turned out last night were incredible.

Leigh Wood celebrates victory (Getty Images)



"When I came out to Mull of Kintyre to hear them singing they lifted me up and picked me up to another level.

"It was unreal and I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who came to support me."

Wood is now in line to face Leo Santa Cruz who is the super WBA champion or he could face the winner of Josh Warrington and Kiko Martinez who meet in Leeds on March 26.

But promoter Eddie Hearn said that the City Ground is on the agenda.

"If Leigh Wood fights in Nottingham again it will only be at the City Ground," he said.

Michael Conlan falls out of the ring after being knocked out by Leigh Wood (PA)



"That has been his dream for a long time. If it's Vegas for the Leo Santa Cruz fight we'll see.

"But for a long time, Leigh Wood has been scrimping around for no money. He has been on the road but in the last year or so he's started making money.

"He made a lot of money this time and he is going to make a load of money in the next fight.

"He's dedicated his whole life to the sport. You saw what he went through. He deserves everything he gets. We will make sure it is a massive fight wherever it is."

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