1) It’s not over until it’s over
Perhaps the most thrilling sight in boxing is that of a fighter turning what appeared to be a guaranteed defeat into victory with just a single shot. That’s something Leigh Wood now has a knack for doing, which makes him a fighter impossible to write off and his fights essential viewing.
2) Nothing compares to you
Although increasingly these days main events in the UK battle for eyeballs with Match of the Day on a Saturday night, there is still nothing in football that compares to the experience of seeing a fight turn on its head in a split second.
3) Wood can really punch
If it wasn’t known before, we can be sure of it now: Leigh Wood hits hard. It is the kind of power you can see register on the face of his opponent the second his shots land and the kind of power that always give him a chance in fights.
4) Wood can switch-hit
It had mixed results, admittedly, but it was still interesting to see Wood turn southpaw in round two. From this stance he initially had success, too, finding space for his left cross and uppercut.
5) Warrington adapted well
Despite seeing Wood rewrite the script and turn southpaw early on, Warrington remained calm and figured his way around this change rather impressively. He didn’t panic or get reckless, but instead made small, clever adjustments, which led to Wood going back to square one.
6) Rough and ready
When fighting Josh Warrington, you will likely be protecting yourself from more than just his fists, which proved true against Leigh Wood on Saturday. Because as well as fists, there were shoulders, elbows and shots around the back of the head, all of which made for a messy spectacle at times.
7) Wood is Froch 2.0
Although they have slightly different styles and very different personalities, the more we see of Leigh Wood, the more we also see of Carl Froch, the Nottingham warrior who came before him. It was fascinating therefore to listen to Froch commentate on Wood’s latest big win on DAZN.
8) All-British is the way to go
When it is clear two British boxers have a ceiling, far better is it to see them fight each other than for one, or both, to “dare to be great” in a fight overseas they will more than likely lose. There is just something special about a domestic battle.
9) Benefit of the doubt
Ask Warrington and his corner team and they will tell you that not only was the count he received in round seven both quick and short, but that he should have also been given the chance to recover between rounds after making it to his feet.
10) Again, again
Such is his style, his ability to entertain, and the dramatic nature of his fights, it is hard for Leigh Wood to win or lose a fight these days without it leading to calls for a potential rematch. However, if he is to fight Warrington again, it will be up at super-featherweight, where, Wood says, his future now lies.
