Ringside Report: Leigh Wood Stops Josh Warrington To Retain World Featherweight Title

Ringside Report: Leigh Wood Stops Josh Warrington To Retain World Featherweight Title

For nearly seven rounds, it was vintage Josh Warrington. The Leeds fighter was well on top and seemingly well on his way to becoming a world featherweight champion again. But Leigh Wood pulled off his latest miracle as he found the punches he so badly needed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Warrington didn’t fight with reckless abandon. He used educated pressure to dominate Warrington for the majority of the contest that was fought in a searing red-hot atmosphere at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday night.

Wood, in his last fight at the weight, looked in real danger of being overwhelmed in a brutally hard fight that had the Leeds and Nottingham faithful roaring their heroes on. His legs looked unsteady multiple times, and Warrington fought like a fighter who knew he was very much in the last chance saloon.

After a tight opening round, that Warrington probably edged, Wood won the 2nd round clearly before Warrington took control in the 3rd and he found real success and continued his good work until that sudden violent ending that enabled Wood to sign out on his featherweight run with a victory.

Warrington lost a point in the 7th round for repeated blows to the back of the head, which looked a little harsh, but he pressed forward regardless until he was caught in the closing seconds of the round. A stunning combination dropped Warrington heavily, and he staggered back to his corner when he got back to his feet with his back facing the referee, and the referee quite rightfully called time on the pulsating contest. Warrington briefly complained, but from ringside, it was hard to sympathise with his protests. But not the manner of his defeat.

Wood defended his WBA featherweight title for the final time, and hopefully, when he moves up in weight, he finally gets his wish to fight at his beloved City Ground. It’s the least that he deserves.

Despite his inspired performance and asking to run the Wood fight back, retirement seriously needs to be considered. Sometimes you have to get out at the right time. Warrington might be at that point now. With two consecutive defeats and only one win in five fights since rejoining the Matchroom bubble, Warrington shouldn’t be granted further world title fights without going through the tiresome formality of earning one. An extremely good career may well have now run its course.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing