MIchael Conlan was taken straight to hospital after being knocked out of the ring by Leigh Wood in a dramatic conclusion to their world title fight.
Conlan was in control of the featherweight tussle, dropping Wood in the first round before opening a healthy lead on the scorecards.
But Wood refused to relinquish his title and dropped his Irish challenger in the penultimate round before delivering a brutal stoppage which left Conlan out cold.
The visitor fell out of the ring and was immediately tended to by paramedics but was later reported to be conscious before being put in an ambulance.
Wood said: “I hope Michael’s alright; I can’t celebrate right now until I know he’s alright.
“I’m just thinking about Mick, I can’t get him out of my head it was a bad knockout.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn wrote on Twitter: “The most dramatic fight I’ve ever witnessed. All our thoughts with Michael Conlan right now.”
Conlan was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards going into the final round before he was stopped.
The 30-year-old had won all 16 of his professional fights heading into last night’s world title challenge as he faced a man rejuvenated by his upset win over Xu Can last summer.
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Wood had upset the Chinese champion in Eddie Hearn’s back garden and was making the first defence of his title against a top-drawer challenger.
He could now target the winner of Josh Warrington’s rematch with Kiko Martinez which will be held in Leeds in a fortnight.
