Respectful warriors to bitter rivals – Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington run it back

Both are former world champions who lost their last bouts.

No one considers either to be in their prime.

Most would call them overachievers. One can’t break an egg, but he has built up a championship aura by working harder than his opponents.

The other has snatched victory from defeat more than once.

Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington are fighting for the second time this Saturday at Nottingham Arena in Nottingham, Eng.

Wood,37, was born in the Gelding District of the United Kingdom, known for its textiles and coal mining.

Warrington, 35, was born in Leeds, a city in West Yorkshire, England. The place is thriving now, but several years ago, it was filled with gangland violence.

Wood has been a professional since 2011. It took Wood eight years and 23 fights to capture the European featherweight title. He promptly lost it soon after, but then picked up the BBB British featherweight title after contemplating retirement.

In 2021, Wood challenged Can Xu. Underdog Wood won by stoppage in the last round. Wood’s victory surprised many. He went home to defend his title against Belfast native Michael Conlon.

The homecoming got off to a brutal start. Conlon, a southpaw, couldn’t miss with left hands. One knocked Wood down and close to out. He battled back, but Conlon looked like he was on his way to taking Wood’s title. Far behind on the scorecards, Wood pushed the action – finding Conlon and knocking him through the ropes and unconscious in the 12th round. The moment was out of a movie.

Wood lost his title to Mauricio Lara, but won it back by outboxing his slower opponent in the rematch.

The comeback kid then fought Warrington, who, like Conlon, built up a substantial lead until Wood landed some concussive blows, stopping the Leeds warrior in round seven. The win was stunning and exhilarating to Wood and his fans.

Warrington lost his next fight and said he was retiring. Not really.

His career has had many highs that many didn’t see for Warrington. He captured the IBF in 2018 by defeating Lee Selby. His win over former champion Carl Frampton was a highlight. Everything changed in 2021 when he fought Mauricio Lara in a non-title bout.

Warrington was a big favorite, but he lost in nine hard rounds. A rematch lasted two rounds – an accidental head butt ended the fight. Warrington was a champion again seven months later, beating up Kiko Martinez. The joy was short-lived as he lost his title a few months later.

Next up was Wood, the ultimate comeback kid. Warrington was in control until Wood caught him with a combination. The referee stopped the fight, and Warrington howled in protest.

“I feel he should’ve(the referee) let me get on, Warrington told boxing-social.com after the fight. “I know we’re not in America, but there are referees there who let you bounce up at nine. Frustrating. He’s pulling the scorecards at the end of each round. He will know that I’m up. I just feel it’s a bit of an injustice.”

Wood is tired of Warrington’s complaining.

“I’d like to really shut him up for good, you know, how he went off for the last fight.”

Wood also said that Warrington is a dirty fighter, while Warrington spoke of the “lucky” shot that Wood landed in fight one.

It was more than one.

Will it happen again, or will Warrington get his revenge?