Most boxers would be a bag of nerves heading into their first world-title shot.

But not Michael Conlan, so it seems. BBC Sport Northern Ireland went behind the scenes as he prepared for the biggest fight of his career.

Harper looked deflated in that post-fight interview. She wanted the stoppage. But she dominated from the outset and hit Abellaneda with some brutal shots. A disciplined performance.

Terri Harper speaking to DAZN: "This was a fresh start for me. It was about coming back and getting the rounds. I'm lacking the experience and these are the fights I need. A first-time cut - I have to learn these things.

"This year is going to be a learning fight. I'll have a week off and straight back in the gym."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham

Former women's super-featherweight world champion Terri Harper got back to winning ways after stepping up to lightweight with a wide points win over Argentina's Yamila Belen Abellaneda to claim the WBA Intercontinental Lightweight Championship.

Harper, 25, said she was "embarrassed" by her fourth-round stoppage loss to Alycia Baumgardner in November, which was her first professional defeat and saw her relinquish the title she had held since July 2019.

But Harper started well against Belen Abellaneda, who was frequently made to miss with punches in the opening two rounds.

However, the English fighter sustained a bad-looking cut over her left eye in the third round, although her corner did a good job of covering the wound.

Belen Abellaneda kept coming forward but took a lot of punishment with Harper having success with lefts to the head and body and some powerful uppercuts on her way to a deserved win, with all three judges scoring it 99-91.

Image source, BBC Sport

All three judges score it 99-91 to Terri Harper. Tougher tests to come, but a terrific performance after the disappointment of losing her world title last time out.

Harper a future two-weight world champion? It's possible. The move up to lightweight may well just pay off.

Harper bouncing up and down on the ring as if it's a trampoline. She has been relentless in these 10 rounds.

A super one-two combination midway from Harper through is the highlight of the round.

An accomplished performance from the Doncaster fighter. Both boxers raise their arms at the final bell, but there will only be one outcome.

Image source, PA Media

Harper switches to southpaw once again. She ducks and weaves her way in and then throws a lovely left-hook and straight right combination.

There is blood slowly dripping from above Harper's left eye. It was sustained in the third round but her corner has done a good job in tidying it up.

A quiet round, once again, Harper the better boxer.

Uppercuts. Body shots. Feints and combinations. Terri Harper is dominating with timing and accuracy.

Abellaneda is still going, though. As the cliche goes, she's a tough Mexican.

Abellaneda is on her toes and lets her hands go but struggles to connect. Harper is moving out of range and countering perfectly with single shots.

The Argentine does strike with a straight left towards the end. Her best punch of the fight, but Harper's round again.

Leigh Wood arriving at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham a little earlier...

These two-minute rounds fly by as Harper continues to control the fight. She's stalking her opponent and unleashing a variety of shots. Impressive stuff.

Harper turns southpaw and throws one below the belt. The referee allows Abellaneda some time to recover. But it's all one-way traffic at the moment.

The calm before the storm...

As you join us, Doncaster's former WBC super-featherweight champion Terri Harper is currently in action against Argentina's Yamila Belen Abellaneda.

It's Harper's first outing since she lost her world title after being stopped by American Alycia Baumgardner in August last year.

Harper has moved up a division and is fighting for the WBA intercontinental lightweight title.

We're halfway through the 10-round contest and Harper is firmly on top, boxing beautifully and repeatedly catching her opponent flush - particularly with viscous left jabs and right hooks.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham

Image source, BBC Sport

Welcome to the Motorpoint Arena where Nottingham’s Leigh Wood has come home.

Wood was due to fight in this venue on the undercard of Carl Froch’s IBF super-middleweight world championship fight against Lucian Bute 10 years ago (which Froch won with a fifth-round knockout), but his bout did not go ahead.

However, Wood, who was in the crowd that day cheering on his fellow Nottingham fighter, now gets the chance to fight in front of a sold out crowd of just under 10,000 people and has called the opportunity “a fairy tale”.

He added: “Of all the arenas for Carl I was at in the seats screaming, now I’m headlining in the same arena. This isn’t the peak or where I stop.”

It’s a far cry from his previous fight, when he won the ‘regular’ version of the WBA World Featherweight Championship with a points win over China’s Can Xu in July at Matchroom’s Fight Camp, staged in promoter Eddie Hearn’s (fantastic) garden in Brentwood, Essex because of Covid-19 restrictions.

And Wood has his eyes on fighting at another venue in Nottingham - the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest, but for any chance of that dream coming true, he has to become the first professional to beat Ireland’s Michael Conlan.

Good evening!

Fancy a spot of world championship boxing? Oh, go on then. We have live text commentary, analysis and radio coverage as Leigh Wood defends his WBA featherweight title in his home city of Nottingham against Belfast's Michael Conlan.

Will Wood's experience and power prove too much? Or will amateur star Michael Conlan - an Olympic bronze medalist - teach the Briton a boxing lesson?

Buckle in and enjoy the ride - I've got a feeling this will be a good one!

Image source, get