Leigh Wood firmly believes that, in the event of a rematch with Josh Warrington, he can secure victory in a shorter duration than their previous bout.
Both fighters, who are now competing in the super-featherweight division, have not stepped into the ring since their intense clash at the Sheffield Arena more than six months ago. In that memorable fight, Wood displayed remarkable resilience and managed to halt Warrington’s progress in the seventh round.
Wood had been optimistic about the possibility of a second fight occurring at the City Ground, the cherished home of his beloved football team Nottingham Forest. Unfortunately, this year his dream will not come true, leaving the 35-year-old in a state of anticipation for what lies ahead.
Despite being a free agent Wood told Boxing News that he would like to re-sign with Matchroom Boxing and believes there is still a chance of fighting at the City Ground in 2025. In the meantime, Wood would love nothing more than to get his hands on Warrington once again.
“He mentioned that the rematch would exhibit a complete transformation, considering the insights we’ve gathered from the initial encounter.”
“Lee Wylie and trainer Ben Davison analyzed the fight, and we have already been diligently addressing areas for improvement in case it occurs again. I am determined to defeat him and silence him much more swiftly.”
Wood seems to be encountering a hurdle in the form of money, as he believes he deserves a larger share of the winnings since he emerged victorious in their previous encounter. Surprisingly, this topic has contributed to a rivalry between the two individuals, which was unexpected given their respectful attitudes towards each other last year.
Wood’s captivating career, marked by triumphing as a featherweight world champion and participating in adrenaline-fueled Fight of the Year matches, lacked only a riveting rivalry and intense battles at the City Ground.
Wood believes that Warrington is the one who initiated their conflict.
“He showed me a decent amount of respect. He even made a few comments during our face-to-face confrontation. Despite me confidently stating that I would defeat him and explaining how I would do it, there was still a sense of mutual respect. However, I doubt that will be the situation if we were to fight again.”
I find it difficult to envision myself sitting there and shaking his hand, considering the things he has said and his behavior.
Click on the video below to watch the entire interview.
