loading…
Former IBF featherweight world champion, Josh Warrington, is expecting an exciting fight when he faces WBA featherweight champion, Leigh Wood. / Photo: Instagram @j_warrington
LEEDS – Former IBF featherweight world champion, Josh Warrington, is expecting an exciting fight when he faces WBA featherweight champion, Leigh Wood. The duel for the title involving two British boxers is planned to take place at the Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, Saturday (10/7/2023) evening local time.
Warrington headed into the match having lost to Luis Alberto Lopez last December. The majority decision defeat also cost Warrington his IBF featherweight crown. Warrington also used the fight against Wood as the arena for his revival.
“Respect is not an issue. Leigh has something I want. I am jealous, jealous of where he is at the moment. I fought Carl Frampton a few years ago and I would say I was a fan of his until I boxed him,” Warrington told The Mirror.
Even though they ultimately won a unanimous decision victory over Frampton, they remained friends outside the ring. “After the fight, we hugged and he came into my dressing room, and now I call him a friend,” Warrington said.
If he succeeds in defeating Wood (27-3, 16KO), Warrington has the opportunity to challenge the IBF super featherweight champion, Joe Cordina. However, it also depends on the fee offered by promoter Eddie Hearn.
“The fight against Cordina depends on how much he will pay me. I’ve been at featherweight for a long time, so it would be great to move up a class,” said Warrington (31-2-1, 8KO).
“But more than anything, I wanted to go to America. That’s been on my mind for a long time. Eddie said it, Frank Warren said it when he promoted me, Eddie said it again and that’s one of the reasons I went back to him. Apart from the heavyweights, who else who will have a big fan base there? I’m very sure I will take some big numbers,” concluded the boxer nicknamed The Leeds Warrior.
Meanwhile, Wood recorded a win over Mauricio Lara in his previous appearance. This victory also avenged Lara’s defeat and reclaimed the WBA featherweight championship belt.
(ask)
