Josh Warrington has branded Leigh Wood, a ‘little poodle-haired fella’ as he ramps up the trash talk ahead of a potential rematch.
‘The Leeds Warrior’ was producing a dazzling display in their first encounter. But the fight turned aroundwhen the Nottingham man detonated a thunderous combination to send him crashing towards the canvas.
Josh Warrington fires shots at Leigh Wood
On September 21, Josh Warrington will challenge IBF super featherweight world champion, Anthony Cacace, on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
With the opportunity to become a 3x, two-division world champion on the line, it goes without saying that the die-hard Leeds supporter’s army of fans will descend on the national stadium, chanting football songs from the top of their lungs, as they will on their man to create a little bit of history.
However, while the fight with the Northern Irish sensation is undoubtedly one for boxing enthusiasts to sink their teeth into, Warrington can’t get Leigh Wood out of his head.
When the 33-year-old clashed with his arch-nemesis at a sold-out Utilita Arena in Sheffield, it was he who was doing the better work.
Through the first six rounds, Warrington dominated the contest, utilizing the formidable engine that has caused so many fighters problems, to overwhelm and almost drown his adversary.
However, in a moment of magic, in the seventh segment, Wood took advantage of all his experience, pulling out a scintillating series of shots to secure the finish.
Since then, the Leeds man has desperately craved his opportunity to gain redemption. And he’s certainly not shying away from a war of words.
In an exclusive interview with Bloody Knockout, he asserted: “There’s one little poodle-haired fella who’s been niggling away at me for a long time in Nottingham. So, even with a world title bout coming up, I’d love to put that one to bed.
“I’ve always wanted to go to America, so it would be good to tick that box too. After that, I want to go back to Leeds and have a testimonial.”
While the last fight didn’t end in the way the 2x world champion would’ve wanted, he’s now stepped up a weight class and plans on looking better than ever.
Josh Warrington is feeling like a new man at super featherweight
Throughout his career, the popular brawler has left his opposition in a state of complete and utter disarray, hitting them from all sorts of angles en route to bagging dominant decisions on the cards.
However, incredibly, Warrington was doing all that while struggling to make the weight. For 12 years, the boxer has gone through the hardest of cuts to get on the scale at 126 pounds.
Regardless, in a testament to his professionalism, he managed it, and produced a plethora of iconic performances along the way, claiming the scalps of Carl Frampton and Lee Selby.
But now, he’s ready to move up to his natural division. At 130 pounds, Warrington feels fresh, energized and as if he can force an even faster pace than fans are accustomed.
He explained: “Chatting to my old fella, we always had intentions to move up after the last fight regardless of the outcome. I’ve been making featherweight since 2012, so there’s more luxury now, especially with me being older. I think you’re going to see vintage Warrington with some extra spice.”
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