Editor’s Note: This is the third award out of four year-end awards. Warrior of the Year will follow.
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The biggest fights aren’t always the best.
The featherweight bout between Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan on March 12 at Nottingham Arena in Nottingham, England was not a famous event, at least not internationally, but it was the most memorable.
It has non-stop action, which is an essential ingredient in a great battle. It had twists when it was added to the movie. And it has a surreal finish, which is the bow on top.
Conlan, 31, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist from Northern Ireland, set off the madness by knocking out the hometown lad and injuring him with a header from the left flank late in the open. screen.
What followed was a breathtaking showdown, showcasing skill, sportsmanship and most importantly, courage.
Conlan played better in the first half of the game, in which Wood, the minor title holder, had some harrowing moments and appeared to be on his way to a disappointing defeat.
However, the 34-year-old British tennis player refused to give up. And his perseverance paid off in the second half of the bout, as he turned the one-sided fight into an all-out fight and ultimately a decisive victory in Boxing Junkie’s Match of the Year 2022.
Until the 11thorder around it was Wood, who was doing the bulk of the punishment. He got the crowd up by knocking Conlan down at the end of the penultimate round, though Conlan still soberly protested that he slipped.
Then in 12order and the last frame, arguably the most dramatic time of the year.
Wood and Conlan, still shooting long into the final minutes, were exchanging punches as Conlan backed away until his back was pressed against the rope. Then Wood appeared to deliver the decisive punch, a straight punch that left Conlan’s body limp.
Wood unleashed another series of quick punches that sent his unconscious opponent through the ropes and onto the floor, which caused a ruckus in the packed gymnasium.
Referee Steve Gray looked at Conlan over the top rope to determine if he had a chance to climb back into the ring and continue but immediately realized he was out and stopped the match at 1 :25.
Conlan had a tight lead after 11 innings (105-102, 104-103 and 104-103), a sign that Wood lost his opponent’s early advantage before making the scoreboards irrelevant. in the most impressive way possible.
The loser was taken to the hospital immediately after the battle but made a quick recovery. He returned to win consecutive matches before the end of the year, once again showing his resilience.
Wood delivered a spectacular victory he could hardly top, a victory that was supposed to lead to more important skirmishes.
The real winners? The fans, both those at Nottingham Arena that night and those watching around the world.
Sometimes a perfect match in perfect conditions creates an almost perfect fight. That’s what we saw on March 12.
Tomorrow: Warrior of the Year.
