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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tom Doyle

Leigh Wood stuns Xu Can to win WBA featherweight world title in Brentford

New WBA champion Wood

(Picture: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

Leigh Wood is the new WBA featherweight world champion after pulling off a shock victory to stop Xu Can in the final round at the Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood.

Xu was returning to action for the first time since outpointing Manny Robles III in November 2019, and his ring rust showed as 32-year-old Wood produced a superb controlled display.

Behind on the cards heading into the final round, the champion needed a big finish - but was put onto the canvas by another powerful shot from Nottingham fighter Wood before the referee stepped in to end the contest.

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