Prediction.

Conlan is better schooled, is the more compact fighter, is harder to counter, has better technique, but Wood has better variety, hits harder, is the better inside fighter, and has better shot selection. I think Wood is the better counter puncher, both fighters can box on the back foot, but Conlan's overall footwork is better, I think he's harder to pressure if he's backing up, and is better at cutting off the ring than Wood. Conlan has definitely fought at a higher level as an amateur and in the WSB, there isn't much in it for opposition as professionals, but Wood is old, so it might be hard for him to combat Conlan's experience by making it a high tempo fight.

I think Conlan will out box Wood on the outside in the early rounds, but not comfortably, the battle of the jabs will be competitive, Conlan won't be able to back Wood up, but Conlan will do a better job of setting up the right hand, will make Wood fall short by judging the distance. I think Wood will do damage with the counter right hand, will back Conlan up, and the tide will turn in his favour in the mid rounds, he will back Conlan up, will get into a rhythm of timing Conlan, and whenever Conlan fights in the pocket, Wood will do all the damage, his power and variety will be the main differences, I think Conlan will finish strong, he has great stamina, and an age advantage, but he won't be able to hurt Wood, and will be too far behind after being dominated for most of the fight.

I think Wood wins a UD, I'd be surprised if this didn't go the distance, I wouldn't be surprised if Conlan won.

Conlan's amateur background was important, he was dominant because he was so much better schooled, he won the battle of the back hands by setting up the left, and by moving with Wood's right hand and partly blocking it, Conlan isn't a puncher, but Wood wasn't ready for Conlan's left hand at all, couldn't read Conlan setting it up, and when his chin was up (which is a terrible mistake), Conlan took full advantage. I thought Wood's game plan was poor, he didn't look to establish his jab, wasn't trying to apply consistent pressure, seemed to be trying to stop Conlan's movement rather than gradually slow it down, I don't think he had the skill to find the balance between giving Conlan easy openings and letting rounds slip, but he took full advantage when Conlan was on the ropes, his punch selection was good on the inside, and he held up well mentally. Conlan defended well when he was on the ropes, but was able to get off the ropes quickly, he was patient and used his technical skill when Wood wasn't hurt, his only mistake was when he'd hurt Wood, he got reckless, missed a lot, which took a lot out of him, and gave Wood a better chance of surviving, and he got countered at times. I don't think Conlan was hurt when he was down in round 11, it was a flash knock down, but it cost him 3 points, and I think it affected him mentally, he didn't seem hurt at the start of the last round, but he was caught with a hard shot he didn't see coming, and he was out before he fell through the ropes. I think Conlan focused too much on stopping Wood after hurting him early, he was relying on power, but Wood took the power better as the fight went on because he wasn't making the same beginners mistakes, and when Conlan stood in the pocket, even as he was doing damage, Wood held up great mentally, had the fitness to withstand the punishment, and his target was in front of him. This fight finished Conlan's career, but he did more for his legacy in this fight than in any of his wins.