NOTTINGHAM, England — Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington have both anticipated a quick conclusion to their rematch on Saturday.
The two competitors will meet for the second time more than two years after their initial bout, which Wood (28-4, 17 KOs) secured with a knockout in Round 7.
Since that encounter, both Wood and Warrington (32-4-1, 8 KOs) have experienced losses, making Saturday’s matchup a crucial opportunity for both fighters.
In their first meeting, Warrington was leading on the judges’ scorecards before Wood executed a five-punch combination that resulted in a controversial stoppage.
Now, in front of a packed Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham with pride at stake, both fighters concur that the rematch is unlikely to go the full distance.
“Absolutely, that’s the only way I see it going to be honest with you,” Warrington stated during Thursday’s press conference.
“I can’t envision what Leigh will do differently to make it end sooner. He attempted to hit me in the first fight …
“We boxed him, we out-fought him, had him on the ropes, on the back foot, did everything we needed to do but left ourselves very exposed.”
Wood’s trainer, Ben Davison, commended both his fighter and their opponent for engaging in a high-stakes match that promises excitement.
“These two individuals possess hearts the size of tanks, engines for a thousand men; one has machine guns in his fists, the other a nuclear bomb,” Davison remarked.
“It only adds up to these two having another battle.”
Wood, competing in his hometown of Nottingham, expressed his readiness to face challenges once more to achieve victory.
“I’m confident. That’s not me suggesting it will be straightforward; I don’t anticipate it to be easy, nor do I desire it to be easy because I feel more accomplished when I overcome difficulties to secure the win, as you’ve seen in past fights,” Wood explained.
“I understand what I need to do; it’s much clearer now.”
Wood also acknowledged fellow Nottingham fighter and former super-middleweight champion, Carl Froch.
“I was speaking with Froch yesterday and told him, ‘you genuinely inspire me, Carl,'” he said. “I know I mention it on camera, but you inspired me as a child, attending that arena, watching him fight and thinking, ‘I want to do this one day.’
