Behind, bruised, and beaten, it was a mortal six punches that gave Leigh Wood victory on a boisterous night in Sheffield. 

It was a night that perfectly summarises the emotion involved in the sport of boxing, with both agony and elation in equal measure. For Josh Warrington, that agony was palpable. 

For Wood, that elation is a feeling he knows well. He is a fighter who is quickly faming himself for rescuing a fool’s errand. 

It was never going to be a slow start. Both men thrive on activity and, in a cauldron of noise, the Nottingham and Leeds loyal were not going to settle for periods of pause. 

Warrington was the first to let his hands go, to which the champion responded by switching to southpaw. Warrington finished the opener by lodging a fine right hook. 

Wood seemed content with single shots in the second, as an uppercut landed firm on an advancing Warrington. It was a fight brewing nicely. 

Then came the third and an assault from the challenger. Barely had referee Michael Alexander waved the two to fight when Warrington was up in Wood’s space. 

Wood looked uncomfortable, doing his best to avoid the sheer volume of work coming his way. It wasn’t quite the kitchen sink, but Warrington definitely threw a couple of taps. 

The exchanges were rough, and when coming out of them Wood was there to be hit. It was enthralling yet unsightly. It was standard Josh Warrington. 

Warrington led with heavy hooks in the fourth - and a little bit of head - leaving Wood cut beside the eye. Wood must have felt as if the ring was the size of a portaloo. Warrington was unescapable. 

It may have looked like aimless aggression at times, but the Leeds man was using his jab cleverly. It was a brilliant showing thus far. 

As the fight moved into the second half, time was ticking for Wood. Unless he produced something spectacular, he was heading back down the M1 beltless. 

Warrington, having been previously warned for behind-the-head-blows, was deducted a point. It looked as if it would matter little. 

But then, with barely two seconds left in the round, a stunning right hook debilitated Warrington. Froze in position, he was clipped all the way to the canvas. A real super six of punches. 

Warrington rose, stumbled, and, facing away from Michael Alexander, put the referee in a position where he had to wave off the fight. 

It didn’t go down well with team Warrington but, in a battle of such high degree, with such little margin, it was never going to. I guess he learnt a cold lesson.  

For Wood, this felt like the icing on the cake after a captivating couple of years. However, it is the next move which will brings him eternal satisfaction. 

Forget the belts, forget the money. 

Leigh Wood at the City Ground. 

Now that is special.  

Oscar Bevis