Leigh Wood will finally get the chance to put all doubt to bed against Josh Warrington this Saturday in Nottingham, England.
The two bitter rivals first faced off in Sheffield back in October 2023 with Wood defending his WBA featherweight title with a controversial win. Warrington was having the better of the contest, with Wood seemingly not at the races, but the tide turned in the seventh when Wood had Warrington down heavily. Warrington returned to his feet and walked to his corner, but with Warrington’s back to the referee Michael Alexander the contest was waved off.
There were protests from Warrington and his corner who claimed he was fit to continue, but Wood and his team were adamant that it was only going to end one way. A rematch was instantly discussed and seemed to be on the cards for a year after their original clash, but it never came to fruition.
“When the rematch first came around, the money wasn't right,” Wood told BoxingScene. “But I took a massive reduction in pay to make this fight, just to let you all know that. That's what this fight means to me, so I can't wait to get my hands on him and do a better job.”
Eddie Hearn, the promoter of the first bout, had argued that the money both Wood and Warrington expected just wasn't on the table after Wood vacated his WBA strap. The bout never materialized and both chased a move up in weight and a clash with Anthony Cacace. Warrington would take him on first, losing a unanimous decision for the IBF junior lightweight title in September 2024. Wood would take on Cacace for the lesser-respected IBO 130lb strap in May 2025, suffering a ninth round finish from the Irishman.
“Yeah, obviously, no loss is easy to take,” said Wood of the defeat. “But I knew the risk going into the fight, it was a step up in more aspects than one, but it was a risk and I've took risks my whole career. I've always run towards a challenge and never shy away from it. But yeah, I'm feeling good. This is a style that suits me a lot better. Matched a lot more evenly, size-wise. But yeah, like I said, it was a massive opportunity and risk as well, which I ran towards and I fell short.”
Warrington laid down his gloves center ring following his loss to Cacace, signalling his retirement from the sport. That decision was short-lived, with Warrington believing he had much more to give and returned with a unanimous decision win over Asad Asif Khan in April 2024. So, what did Wood make of Warrington’s return to the sport last year?
“Underwhelming. Very underwhelming,” he said. “He looked very nervous. He looked a bit gun-shy. Maybe he had a lot of pressure that night because if he lost to him, that would have been it.”
Despite Warrington’s flat showing against Asif Khan, Wood expects a much better version to enter the ring on Saturday night.
“[I’m expecting] the best Josh Warrington. I'm preparing for the best,” Wood said. “I'm preparing for the best you've seen him, as I did the first time. That's what I've got to expect. When there's a lot on the line, it brings the best out of people.”
And how does Wood believe Saturday’s contest ends after a controversial finish in the first encounter?
“I think I win by stoppage and a better performance,” he said. “More in control and a controlled stoppage as well.”
Tom Ivers is a lifelong fight fan and former amateur boxer who has a master’s degree in sports journalism. Tom joined BoxingScene in 2024 and is now a key part of the UK and social media teams.
