Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – Who wins this featherweight battle of Britain
Nottingham’s ‘Leigh-thal’ Leigh Wood (27-3, 16KO) will defend his WBA World featherweight title to ‘Leeds Warrior’ Josh Warrington (31-2-1, 8KO) on neutral ground at the Sheffield Arena, on October 7, 2023, live on DAZN.
Both boxers are heavily supported, two-time world featherweight champions, with British and Commonwealth titles in their trophy cabinets, so this domestic dust-up is a close contest to call.
So BBN asked their panel of boxing experts for their picks:
Ricky Hatton Former world champion
"I think it's a 50-50 fight, very close. I'm friends with both Leigh and Josh, I think it'll be an absolute barnstormer of a fight, can't help but be excited.
"I wish them both all the best, I think it's a toss of a coin fight."
Sunny Edwards IBF World flyweight champion
"I'm actually friends with both of them.
"Josh, you can never write off. Before he even made it everyone was trying to write him off, every fight – Lee Selby, Carl Frampton. He kept showing that you can't write him off.
"Leigh Wood probably goes in as the more fresher, more favourable. One thing Leigh is very good at is getting to the edge of range, throwing long levers, powerful, but at the same time I think he gets to round seven/eight in a hard fight and I think he's quite spent. And Josh keeps going and going, he's rough, he's rugged, and there'll probably cuts and elbows flying in.
"I think it'll be a great fight and a great atmosphere, but I'll probably lean towards Leigh Wood, more on the last few performances, but you can never write Josh Warrington off. If you could bottle heart and sell it, you'll make a killing off Josh."
Steve WoodPromoter & Manager
"Warrington KO. I feel he's simply better in every department, including punching power, which is why Woods is tipped as the favourite – believe Bookies got this one wrong!"
Mark TibbsBoxing trainer
"Wood wins, for me, and he can afford to bring a fiery nature to the table in this one.
"Just going on recent form, but you can never rule out Warrington as he always brings the warrior’s spirit. Can’t wait for this!"
Glyn Rhodes MBE Boxing coach
"I’m going for Leigh Wood points or late stoppage, as he’s not got as many miles on the clock as Josh Warrington, and I think Josh's style will be perfect for Leigh."
Tim Rickson BBN Editor
"I'm going with Wood to win via late KO in rounds 9-12 or on points.
"I think the champion is the one with the recent form, Warrington had one good win over Kiko Martinez before he retired, but the loss to Mauricio Lara was very one-sided and devastating, and I also thought Luis Alberto Lopez beat him quite convincingly despite it ruled as a mixed decision.
"I think Wood will keep the fight long and sensible, maybe get some success with that lovely right uppercut of his that knocked Lara down in the rematch. Warrington is bound to try and get close to sit on Wood's chest and reel off short hooks and uppercuts, but if Wood is calculated and clever again, like he was in his last fight, then he should dictate this contest from range.
"I think Wood wins on points or possibly a late KO. I'm not giving Warrington much chance because I don't think he has the power to hurt Wood, but he is 'Warrior' with the heart of lion, so you can never write him off. If he starts fast, then Wood will be in for a long, hard night."
Tony SimmsTrainer
"That's gonna be a great fight, I'm really, really looking forward to that fight; and I know Leigh Wood pretty well and he's a good fighter, a nice fella and a good fighter, and Warrington's a good fighter.
"It's a 50-50 fight, that. I'm hoping Leigh Wood just does it at the end."
Carl Frampton Former world champion
"I think that it's really good fight. I like both guys, I really do.
"I think it's a really good fight and it'll be competitive, but if I have to pick a winner it'll probably be Leigh Wood. I think he's probably just slightly fresher than Josh."
Joe Cordina IBF World super-featherweight champion
"If Warrington fights like he has in his last couple of fights, I think Leigh wood beats him comfortably. Beause Leigh Wood is coming off some good wins, his confidence is sky high, and I think since he won a world title, he's levelled up every single fight. Yeah he had that slip up, but he come back in his last fight and boxed very well.
"So he's gonna be going in there with confidence and then Warrington's got a point to prove so I think if Warrington performs like he did in his last couple of fights then I think LeighWood wins comfortable, but if he turns up it'll be a very good fight and a close fight."
Johnny Nelson Former world champion
"I know Josh Warrington has got an amazing engine on him; Josh Warrington will not leave you alone.
"Leigh Wood, if he's heart is to be broken and if there's someone out there to do it, it's Josh Warrington.
"But I think Leigh is not starting to find his own, he has matured as a fighter, believes in everything he's capable of doing.
"Leigh's an Ingle-style kind of fighter and I'm gonna back that every day of the week. Josh is not the fighter he was, but the fighter he is is still very, very dangerous, so I'm going Leigh Wood."
Arijan GorickiFeatherweight title contender
"I think that will be entertaining fight, but Wood's boxing skills will be too much for Warrington's aggression.
"I think Wood via UD".
Jack HughesSouthern Area super-flyweight champion
"It feel Josh has been in way too many hard fights and sadly it’s slowly caught up to him.
"I believe Wood stops him early to mid rounds between 4-6. I’ll predict a round 6 TKO."
Ben WinwardBBN writer
"This should be a great domestic world title fight in a rampant atmosphere in Sheffield. Five years ago when Warrington was at his best, I think he would have been too much for Leigh Wood, but unfortunately I think this version is a shell of that fighter.
"Leigh Wood is by far the fresher man and coming off a really solid, composed decision win over Maurico Lara, the man who absolutely demolished Warrington back in 2021. Last time out against Luis Alberto Lopez, Warrington didn’t do anything to tell me that the performance against Lara was an off night, and unfortunately I don’t think he has the timing, reflexes, engine or punch resistance that he used to.
"I think Warrington will try his best as he always does but Leigh Wood will likely pick up an early points lead under a calculated game plan from Ben Davidson. I also don’t believe he will fight with the same extreme caution he did against Lara, as Warrington doesn’t posses anywhere near the same ferocious power. After building up an early lead and given what will be a raucous arena, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Wood get involved, take a few more risks and tag Warrington with something hurtful that could set up a mid to late finish.
"I’ll go with an entertaining stoppage win for Leigh Wood around rounds 7-10."
John J. Raspanti Lead writer at www.maxboxing.com
"I give the edge to Wood here. He's coming off an enormous victory over Mauricio Lara, a fighter Warrington knows something about.
"Wood's career was on the line. He got the job done against an admittedly less motivated Lara.
"Warrington appears to have peaked. He was rolling until Lara beat him up and knocked him out.
"A convincing victory over aging Kiko Martinez was nice, but losing to Luis Alberto Lopez was not.
"I see Wood winning by decision."
Ben DayFormer Southern Area champion
"I love this fight, two warriors and very good, solid fighters, but I think Leigh Wood edges it for me, but a very close fight, excited for this one!"
Uros DjikanovicBoxing manager & advisor
"I think this fight will be very interesting. Both fighters have had tough fights. Warrington is coming back in the ring after the loss to Luis Alberto Lopez. He also didn’t have a fight in almost a year. On the other hand, Leigh Wood already had two tough fights this year against Mauricio Lara.
"I will give an edge in this fight to Leigh Wood. I think he wins this fight on points."
Jamie SpeightThree-time Southern Area champion
"I like both lads as people and fighters and I see they both have different qualities, I’ve really struggled to pick a winner.
"I’ve had a feeling since this fight was made we were going to see a little resurgence in Josh Warrington and after watching today's weigh-in Leigh looks tight and uncomfortable with Josh looking full, animated and confident; that backed with a relentless work rate, I feel Josh will outwork Leigh and, depending on Leigh’s weight situation and how he rehydrates, he might get him later on down the stretch.
"Take nothing away from both lads, tremendous careers so far and I think we are all in for a real treat tomorrow night! I cannot wait!"
How to watch Wood vs Warrington
Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington fight preview
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