LEIGH WOOD has described his training team, led by Ben Davison, as “game changers” ahead of Saturday’s fight against Josh Warrington.
Nottinghamโs Wood defends his WBA featherweight title against Leedsโ Warrington on neutral territory at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday (Oct 7) and at todayโs final press conference the subject of punch power was raised. With 64 fights between them, 24 have finished inside the distance, yet two thirds of those belong to Wood. The 35-year-old is a reputable puncher but doesnโt believe the fight will necessarily come down to who hits the hardest.
โPower probably wonโt be the deciding factor on Saturday night,โ Wood said. โThere are a lot of other things that go around it. The culture of the trainers in this country is like whoever wants it more will win; whoever is the strongest and hits the hardest will win; whoeverโs the fittest will win. Itโs a load of bollocks. And as my team is slowly coming [in] and changing the game, thereโs a lot more to boxing than what people see. My perception has changed since being down with Ben (Davison) and you will see that on Saturday night.โ
Sitting at the top table to Woodโs left, with promoter Eddie Hearn sandwiched in between, Warrington demonstrated a greater belief and eagerness to win by stoppage on Saturday.
The 32-year-old former champion is not recognised as being heavy-handed but did manage to force a seventh round TKO win over Kiko Martinez in March 2022, even if that was perhaps prematurely ended by referee Marcus McDonnell. Prior to that Warrington had recorded just two wins before the final bell in 10 fights – against Patrick Hyland and Sofiane Takoucht, respectively.
โThese days I can adapt, and my boxing brain has matured,โ Warrington said. โMy power is developing; my strength has developed. Itโs about being economical with punches rather than throwing 85 punch combinations. Set up shots a little bit more. You have different stages of your career and I feel like Iโm in a good stage. Itโs easy to say but I need to show it.โ
He added:ย โMy knockouts have come at championship level; my stoppages have come when itโs mattered most.
โI know I can dig. [It was] my first 15 fights before I got [a] stoppage. People like to think Iโm not a puncher but itโs also a bit down to my style. Iโm not a one punch Edwin Valero puncher [but] Iโve got enough there to hurt Leigh and Iโll be very confident he doesnโt hear [the] final bell.โ