Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington 2: Leigh Wood easily outpoints Josh Warrington in grudge rematch

Home favourite Leigh Wood comfortably outpointed Josh Warrington in their grudge rematch at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, securing a second victory over his British rival.

Wood dictated the tempo across 12 rounds against a frustrated, flat-footed Warrington.

He struggled to get his shots away as Wood cruised to a unanimous decision win with scores of 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111.

Warrington said he would not «rush» any decision but suggested he may hang up the gloves after a fifth loss in 38 bouts.

«It’s too tough a game to be turning up for an opponent and being second best,» he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

«I’m a winner. The will to win is always going to be there but when something is missing it’s too dangerous of a sport.

«I’m 35 now, I’ve got three beautiful kids at home and it’s like how much do you keep on giving?»

The 35-year-old ‘Leeds Warrior’ is a two-time featherweight world champion and stalwart of British boxing.

Wood, 37, is also a former featherweight world champion. He improves to 29 wins with four defeats and hinted this could be his last fight.

«What a fight to finish on if that is the last one. It’s getting harder and harder to be away from my kids. They sacrifice as much as me,» he said.

Their first fight in Sheffield had Warrington comfortably in control until a decisive Wood punch in the seventh round ended the contest.

The rivalry had only deepened since, reflected in the charged atmosphere of the sell-out 8,000-capacity arena as the football-loving fighters entered to songs of their respective clubs.

Warrington walked out to the Leeds United anthem Marching On Together, which segued into his trademark Kaiser Chiefs’ I Predict a Riot, but the travelling noise was outdone by the home crowd when Wood – wearing sunglasses and soaking in the moment – emerged to Nottingham Forest’s Mull of Kintyre.

Wood edged a scrappy first round. Warrington responded with a sharp right hook and straight right in the second.

The home crowd sang «Leigh Wood is one of our own», as their man settled into a southpaw rhythm, slowing the pace and picking shots from range.

He landed a crisp combination in the fifth before Warrington drew blood from Wood’s nose with a single right.

Both men had lost to Anthony Cacace since their first fight, raising the stakes for what felt like a last roll of the dice. Yet it was Warrington who looked the more faded former champion.

«Give them something to sing about,» urged his father and trainer Sean O’Hagan, predicting Wood would tire.

Instead, the bout drifted. Wood, hands low, invited pressure but Warrington could not capitalise. The lull in action seeped into the stands.

By the championship rounds, Warrington appeared to need a knockdown, but there was little sign of one coming.

By the final bell, the tension had evaporated and the outcome felt inevitable.

The sequel lacked the drama of their first fight. Instead, it became a question of who had more left in the tank.

The build-up to the rematch was intensely personal. Warrington described Wood as a «slimy character», while Wood called Warrington «horrible».

Warrington likened his rival to a journeyman, and Wood fired back, branding him an area-level fighter.

How much of it was talk and how much genuine animosity matters little now – both can be celebrated for their achievements and standing in British boxing.

A fight at the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest, was always Wood’s dream, but at this stage of his career it seems unlikely to come to fruition.

«If there is a great offer for the one place I want to fight [City Ground], I’d probably consider it,» Wood said.

He added: «I’m not coming out to get flattened out in front of my own crowd.»

Should he retire, he leaves a legacy as a resilient, powerful and entertaining fighter with memorable nights to his name. He will go down as a legend in his city.

For Warrington, this appears to be the final chapter. He debuted in 2009 and cemented his place on the global stage with high-profile victories over the likes of Lee Selby and Carl Frampton.

Having briefly retired in 2024, the lure of the big nights brought him back. But after this defeat, the fighter who once drove around Leeds in his rickety car trying to sell tickets can leave knowing he gave the sport everything he had.