Leigh Wood insists only a decisive, controversy-free victory will truly end his bitter feud with Josh Warrington when they meet again this weekend in Nottingham. After the disputed seventh-round stoppage in their 2023 clash, Wood is determined to remove any lingering debate - once and for all.
The first fight ended in chaos after Warrington was dropped heavily and failed to properly respond to referee Michael Alexander before the bout was waved off. Warrington has long claimed he could have continued, while Wood has stood firm that the stoppage was justified. Now, fighting in front of 8,000 sold-out hometown fans, Wood says emotion will not distract him.
“I’ll take it as it comes,” Wood said. “I’m at peace with the camp that I’ve had… there’s nothing that’s going to f&^% with me.” Despite years of social media back-and-forth, Wood says he is disengaged from the noise. “I boxed him the first time, I knocked him out and we’ll box again on Saturday and I’m going to do the same again.”
Wood dismissed claims from Warrington’s camp that he was on the verge of defeat in their first meeting. While all three judges had Warrington ahead at the time of the stoppage, Wood argues the scoring didn’t reflect the full picture, pointing to early rounds he believes he won, a point deduction against Warrington, and the 10-8 round from the knockdown. “In what world was he winning the fight on points?” Wood asked.
He also revealed he has seen unseen footage of the stoppage, claiming it shows Warrington stumbling into the ropes after the referee halted the bout. “He didn’t know where he was,” Wood said. “There’s no lucky shots in boxing, especially at that level.”
With pride and bragging rights on the line —-and promoter Eddie Hearn warning the loser could face a long road back - Wood admits this could even be his final fight. “I don’t even know if I’m going to fight again. This could be my last fight and I want to finish on a high.” To do that, he knows there can be no doubt this time.
“Clean,” Wood said. “It’s got to be clean. And it will be clean. It will be very clean.”
Image Credit: DAZN