A DEFINITE BANGER
There aren’t many guarantees in boxing. In fact, there aren’t many guarantees in life. But, put Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington in the same ring, and, it has to work, right?
Even Warrington himself has said that this fight gives him a ‘semi’. Each to their own, I can’t quite say I’m that excited. This is, however, an absolute corker.
Personally I’m not a lover of typical boxing sales talk. In most cases, a ’50/50 fight’ means there is a slight dash of competitiveness, as opposed to an away fighter being 25/1 on.
Yet I think these two might run that saying as close as any.
Of course close fights can be poor fights too. Tim Bradley vs Devon Alexander still breaks my heart. However this pair have the right ingredients to bring us something brilliant.
Their raucous followings and rousing styles could well combine to bring us the type of dust-up that reminds us just how good British boxing can be.
Because it can be f****** fantastic. It isn’t all failed tests and failed fights. In fact, Leigh and Josh are two of the shining lights of British boxing and its reputation to thrill.
That is why a fight between them both has been touted for a short while now.
Even so, there is a slight element of the pair being backed into this fight. That isn’t at all to say neither would take it. Both men’s resumes lay claim to their fearlessness.
Yet with Mauricio Lara having not even made weight for his defence vs Wood last time out, and Warrington coming off the back of a defeat to Luis Alberto Lopez, perhaps this was the only place to go.
The actual place to go will be Sheffield, a city steeped in boxing history, and also perfectly centered between Wood’s hometown of Nottingham and Warrington’s hometown of Leeds.
Both cities will be rooting hard for their man, and may be finding a little bit of pre-fight comfort in believing that the other just isn’t quite up to scratch.
Take Warrington for example, a two-time world champion, with a stacked resume taken from a thrilling six years at the sports’ highest level.
A fighter with an immense work rate and a thirst for exchange.
He may not say so, but I’m sure he finds it insulting that Wood is entering a fight between the pair as not just the belt holder, but the favourite.
When Warrington won his first world title in 2018, Wood’s career highlight was a Midlands title victory over Lee Glover - incidentally at the same arena he will fight in this Saturday.
But whilst Warrington has the experience, Wood and his posse will see a fading fighter in their crosshair. And, with just one win in his last four fights, they may well be right.
For Wood, things have been very different in that same time period.
An against all odds world title win, followed by an against all odds world title comeback, have made his two-year resurgence under trainer Ben Davison nothing short of exhilarating.
Maybe this is the peak of Leigh Wood.
Either way, both men will give us all the answers on what promises to be a noisy night in Sheffield where, for the loser, it could well be end game.
And, where there is jeopardy, there is bound to be excitement.
Oscar Bevis