Leigh Wood states that his grudge match against Josh Warrington may be his final bout.

Leigh Wood is confident that he can conclude his career on a positive note by capitalizing on the style of his opponent Josh Warrington this Saturday.

Wood (28-4, 17 KOs), 37, will face fellow former world featherweight champion Warrington (32-4-1, 8 KOs), 35, in a rematch at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, following his victory over Warrington in Round 7 in October 2023.

Warrington contends that their initial bout was halted too soon, while Wood expresses frustration over Warrington’s comments regarding his Round 9 stoppage loss to Anthony Cacace in May of the previous year.

In addition to wanting to silence Warrington in their non-title junior lightweight clash, Wood is eager to improve upon his disappointing performance against Cacace and potentially end his career with a significant win in front of his hometown supporters.

“I’m going to win this fight, and that’s not underestimating him, but no matter how he chooses to fight, I will have a solution for it, and the fight won’t be prolonged,” Wood told ESPN.

“I’m not looking beyond this fight, but it could be my final one; I will assess the situation afterward. My focus is solely on the prize at hand right now.”

“We have a genuine dislike for each other. However he decides to approach it, whether he comes straight at me or tries to box, I’m ready for it. He may adjust his timing, but he cannot change his style, and his style works in my favor. It’s advantageous for me.”

Wood’s trainer Ben Davison stopped the fight when Northern Irishman Cacace began to land unanswered punches in Round 9, resulting in a distressing defeat for Wood.

Wood, who held two reigns as WBA world featherweight champion from 2022 to 2023, claims he is in better shape now than he was for the Cacace bout, which followed a 19-month hiatus.

Warrington, a two-time IBF world featherweight champion (2018-2021, 2022), has suffered three losses in his last four fights and even briefly retired in September 2024 after a stoppage defeat to Cacace.

“I’ve experienced both good and bad nights at the Nottingham Arena, and the previous fight didn’t suit me stylistically,” Wood told ESPN.

“However, this fight does suit me, and I will perform well. I had a significant layoff before facing Cacace, having dealt with a severe illness for nine months, and I was moving up in weight. I’ve always faced challenges, but with all those factors combined, it may have been a step too far.”

“I’m past the illness now, and I’ve had an excellent training camp. My sparring has gone really well, and I’m not typically the best in sparring. I’m eager to step in the ring and perform better this time. I need to secure this victory. He has undermined me with some of his remarks, and I will deliver a stronger performance.”

Brendan Ingle lessons fresh in Leigh Wood’s mind

Wood aims to replicate the level of performance he demonstrated in victories over Can Xu, Michael Conlan, Mauricio Lara, and Warrington. His career has been a gradual progression, beginning as a professional at a leisure center located four miles from Nottingham city center, where he will compete on Saturday.

As he approaches the end of his career, Wood recognizes the impact of trainer Brendan Ingle on his boxing path. Wood trained at a gym in Sheffield with Ingle, who has recently been featured in the film ‘Giant’ that explores his relationship with Naseem Hamed, who was the featherweight champion from 1995 to 2000.

“I’ve undergone significant changes since my debut, and I’ve faced numerous challenges,” Wood told ESPN.

“But Brendan Ingle advised me early on to gain experience, and I have certainly done that; I’ve encountered highs and lows and rebounded from setbacks.”

“I spent about 10 years with Brendan, who taught me many valuable lessons and instilled self-belief in me. Beyond boxing, he imparted many life lessons.”

“There were many remarkable individuals who passed through the gym during my time there, such as Johnny Nelson, Kell Brook, Kid Galahad, and Junior Witter. It was an incredible environment for learning and developing my skills, and Brendan introduced me to some unconventional training methods. Those were invaluable lessons.”