Leigh Wood easily outpoints Josh Warrington in grudge rematch as retirement talk looms

Leigh Wood comfortably outpointed Josh Warrington in their grudge rematch at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena, handing Warrington a second defeat to the Nottingham favourite and deepening questions about the future for both men.

How Leigh Wood beat Josh Warrington

Wood dictated the tempo across 12 rounds and cruised to a unanimous decision victory, with judges' scorecards reading 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111. The result was Wood's second win over his British rival after he stopped Warrington in their first meeting in 2023, that earlier contest ending with a decisive Wood punch in the seventh round.

Statistics from the fight showed Wood landed almost double the amount of punches as Warrington. The Nottingham man controlled range and rhythm much of the night, settling into a southpaw tempo after edging a scrappy first round and then building his advantage through accurate combinations and measured work from distance.

Fight-by-fight details and in-ring moments

• First fight: Warrington had been comfortably in control until a seventh-round Wood punch ended the contest.
• Rematch (Nottingham): Wood edged a scrappy first round; Warrington landed a sharp right hook and straight right in round two.
• Round five: Wood landed a crisp combination; later in the contest Warrington drew blood from Wood's nose with a single right.
• Outcome: Unanimous decision to Wood over 12 rounds, with scores 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111.

Josh Warrington’s reaction and retirement uncertainty

Warrington said he would not rush any decision but suggested he may hang up the gloves after a fifth loss in 38 bouts. He said the sport is too dangerous to be turning up and being second best, that the will to win remains but when something is missing it becomes too risky. The 35-year-old 'Leeds Warrior' is a two-time featherweight world champion and a stalwart of British boxing; he also has three children at home, a factor he noted when weighing future choices.

Leigh Wood’s stance and legacy talk

Wood, 37, is also a former featherweight world champion and improved his record to 29 wins with four defeats. He hinted this could be his last fight, saying it could be his final contest and that being away from his children is getting harder. Wood reflected that nights like this, in front of his hometown, give him an extra gear and that he might not find an opponent that matches the atmosphere again.

Wood has a resume that includes a WBA featherweight world title, a dramatic knockout victory over Michael Conlan and an avenged defeat to Mauricio Lara. He has suggested Warrington was wrong to claim he was on course to winning the first fight, labelling Warrington very delusional and questioning whether Warrington had rewatched that bout round by round; Wood added he could not see this rematch going the distance.

Venue, atmosphere and walkouts

The contest took place at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena in front of a sell-out 8, 000-capacity crowd. The rivalry between the football-loving fighters was reflected in the charged atmosphere: Warrington walked out to the Leeds United anthem "Marching On Together" which segued into his trademark song, while the home crowd outdid the travelling support when Wood emerged wearing sunglasses to Nottingham Forest's "Mull of Kintyre". At one point the home supporters sang "Leigh Wood is one of our own" as their man settled into his southpaw rhythm.

Form, records and the betting narrative

Bookmakers had expected a tight contest and were not fully convinced of a repeat stoppage given recent form. Wood is in the twilight of his career at 37 and had lasted only nine rounds in his most recent contest against Anthony Cacace; he has fought only once since beating Warrington in 2023, and inactivity was noted as a concern for a fighter who has shown vulnerability to power.

Warrington, 35, has lost three of his last four bouts, those defeats coming to Leigh Wood, Luis Alberto Lopez and Anthony Cacace. He had not been in the ring since beating Asad Asif Khan in a low-key bout ten months earlier. Observers considered the two men—both no longer in their primes—likely to produce a contest that might not go the full 12 rounds, a view that fed predictions for an early finish.

Broader fight night context and schedule

The weekend's boxing schedule showed top-class action on both sides of the Atlantic. For the Nottingham card the published listing cited Saturday, February 21 with a start at 7pm and a main-event ring walk from 10. 30pm at the Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham. On the other side of the Atlantic the same date listed a start and main-event timing for a card at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, and attention there was set to turn to a bout in which Ryan Garcia would attempt to take Mario Barrios' WBC welterweight title.

Details of television and streaming availability were included in listings but are unclear in the provided context. Schedule notes are subject to change.