Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan confirmed – official announcement coming soon
'Leigh-thal' vs 'Mick' coming soon
WBA World featherweight champion Leigh Wood (25-2, 15KOs) will defend his title for the first time to Michael Conlan (16-0, 8KOs).
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed on Twitter on November 1st: "Delighted to win the purse bid for our champ Leigh Wood to defend his WBA World title against Mick Conlan – official announcement coming soon."
The 33-year-old from Gedling caused an upset in his last fight, stopping Can Xu in Brentwood back in July. That success has helped him climb to the top end of the pecking order in the featherweight division, BoxRec placing him at No.2 underneath IBF titlist Kid Galahad, who defends his title for the first time on November 13.
Wood’s first defence of his belt was always rumoured to be at home against the Irishman in December. The Belfast boxer is the WBA interim champion at featherweight after he prevailed on points against T.J Doheny in August. That victory was his 16th success since he turned professional in 2017, after his infamous robbery at the 2016 Olympics, and ensured he kept up his 100% record. His last four fights have gone past 10 rounds.
The former British and Commonwealth champion from Nottingham has been beaten only twice in his career so far. Gavin McDonnell stopped him in the sixth round way back in 2014, when he stepped up prematurely for the British super-bantamweight title; while more recently, he was on the wrong side of the judges’ mixed decision in a 10-round contest against Golden Contract winner Jazza Dickens.
Wood’s will be confident as the reigning champion, but he was in good form anyway with a devastating knockout over English champ Reece Mould in February this year to collect the vacant British featherweight title on his second crack at the crown. Now he has to follow the last two title wins up with success against NI's Conlan, a boxer who has a big reputation worldwide, selling out Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick's Day, considered one of the best prospects in the rold right now.
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