Via Jim Calfa: Michael Conlan says he wants a chance at a rematch with WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood after losing to him in a 12th round knockout last Saturday night in a thrilling showdown at Nottingham. Arena in Nottingham, England.
Conlan (16-1, 8 KOs) felt that after revisiting the competition, he deserved a rematch with Wood (26-2, 16 KOs) due to the excitement their match generated for the fans. tomb.
By the time he got to the final round, Conlan had won and was on the verge of a decisive victory if he had survived the last round. Unfortunately for Conlan, he was caught by a right-hand man he didn’t see coming and was dropped from the ring in the 12th minute.
Wood, 33, and his promoter Eddie Hearn did not mention the possibility of a rematch with Conlan during last Saturday night’s post-match press conference.
Hearn wants Wood to play against the winner of a March 26 bout between IBF featherweight champions Kiko Martinez and Josh Warrington or face off against WBA Super World champion Leo Santa Cruz.
Given the severity of Conlan’s disqualification, that could be one of the reasons Hearn wanted Wood to go in a different direction. With that kind of knockout, it’s best for Conlan to make a few adjustments before looking for a rematch with Wood if it’s one that boxing fans still want to see up until that point. .
I’m all good people cheering for the message. I will be back, shoot well and congratulate Leigh and his team.
– Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) March 13, 2022
Wood’s career could take off quickly after the next game. Given the penalty Wood took on Conlan, he could be in trouble facing off against winner Martinez vs. Warrington or against Santa Cruz.
“These things happen. You can’t jump in a pool without getting wet,” Michael Conlan told Matchroom Boxing when talking about his 12th knockout loss to Leigh Wood last Saturday.
“I wanted to run again, and after watching it, I thought my performance was worth watching again. It was the kind of fight anyone would want to see again. People are saying it’s ‘fight of the year.’ I don’t like being in these types of fights.
“Yes, all the scans are clear. It’s just a precaution when you get knocked down. This is the first time I’ve been knocked out, so I’m happy to have completed the tests,” Conlan said of his brain scan performed last Saturday night after his death.
“Also, my body ached from the war. That’s not the kind of fight I’m used to. It’s a different kind of fight that I usually engage in. I like it, but it’s not the kind of fight you want to be in for the rest of your career.
“It was a core class, but I just got tired,” Conlan said. “It could have been Leigh. He was working and doing everything, but I was tired until the end. I started getting caught up in silly hits.
“I wouldn’t say Leigh is the biggest fighter I’ve ever been in the ring because that would be a lie. I’ve been in the ring with bigger punchers, but he punches hard enough. My arm ached because he punched me in the arm.
Conlan said: “When I saw the shots coming, I could have taken them, but I didn’t see the shot coming, and he caught me.
