'We've had a controversial ending' – Josh Warrington campaigning for rematch with 'f***ing tough b*****d' Leigh Wood
10/13/2023 09:56 AM
Josh Warrington is adamant that a rematch between himself and Leigh Wood should happen next.
The twice former featherweight king fell short in his attempt to become a three-time world champion last weekend as he was knocked out in dramatic fashion.
The Leeds hero started strongly and dominated his Nottingham rival, who holds the WBA featherweight crown.
However, in the final second of round seven, it all came crashing down in questionable circumstances.
“It’s the same emotion that I’ve been feeling all throughout the week – frustration,” Warrington told on Friday.
“Frustration and disappointment. I’m disappointed with the way that it finished.
“I was on the way to being a three-time world champion and I’m frustrated because of the seventh round.”
Opinions are split over the finish of the fight, with some fans feeling referee Michael Alexander made the right call by stopping the fight when he did.
However others, including Warrington himself, argue that the bell had gone to end the round and he should have been allowed a minute to recover and continue.
“I got into my groove and I felt at times that I hurt him,” he recalled.
“Credit to Leigh, he’s a f***ing tough b*****d and he keeps on coming.
“Even the times he was hurt, he’d keep on marching forwards.
“I was thinking to myself, ‘It’s just a matter of time before I get to him.'”
The controversy began at the start of round seven, as Alexander deducted a point from Warrington for punching behind the back of the head following just one prior warning.
The Leeds Warrior argues his shot was on target until the very last moment when Wood ducked forward, causing him to accidentally make contact with the rear of his head.
Warrington explained: “Nothing’s gonna change my thoughts on it – the more I watch it, the more I get annoyed.
“He’d given me one warning, he’s not even given me a final warning.
“Going into that point deduction he actually pushed me back and said, ‘Josh, no more,’ and I protested, ‘That wasn’t an illegal punch, it wasn’t intentional.’
“With that, he proceeds and takes a point off. in that couple of seconds after giving me a final warning, he’s also decided to give me a point off.
“He changed his actions and it changes my thinking.
“I’m thinking, ‘I don’t wanna lose this round, hopefully I can draw the round 9-9.’
“I dived in, credit to Leigh, his timing was perfect, hurt me, took the opportunity, four or five shots, and I’m down.
“And then there was the controversy with what happened after that.”
Warrington staggered back to his feet after the knockdown and took a couple of wobbly steps.
Then, in an unusual move for a boxer after a knockdown, he turned his back on the referee and headed back to his corner – a move which no doubt played a part in Alexander’s decision to end the fight.
“I heard the bell when I was down,” Warrington insisted, “Michael Alexander will have heard it as well.
“I heard the bell. Instinctively I get up and I’m on unsteady legs, I won’t argue that fact, the first one or two steps I take look bad, but I’ve got my senses, I know where I am, so I head to my corner.
“By the time I get to the corner I’m settled and I’m p***ed off because I know I’m gonna get a b****cking.
“I hear, ‘Six, seven, eight,’ and on eight I turn around, but he’s already waving. He didn’t look in my gloves, he didn’t check in my eyes, he was already waving.
“I was going straight into my corner, I’ve got a minute to recover. All factors taken into consideration, I still feel I should’ve been allowed that minute…
“This is world level boxing, it’s not someone who’s just starting out in their career. This is someone who’s been in many world title fights, give me that opportunity.”
Wood has since tweeted to suggest he would be happy to oblige Warrington with a rematch, though he also holds the option of moving up in weight for a clash with IBF super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina.
“I hope he can be true to his word,” Warrington said, “He wants to go to the [30,000 capacity] City Ground stadium and you need a dance partner to do that.
“What better fight than Wood vs Warrington 2?
“They’re talking about Joe Cordina, but Joe Cordina’s not the biggest of names.
“Leigh’s fan base is growing, but it’s not like mine where I’d had a fan base for nearly ten years before I boxed at Elland Road, constantly building…
“I understand a fight with Cordina is appetising to be a two-weight world champion, but if we’re talking about an event and a big fight – the atmosphere on Saturday night was absolutely fantastic.
“We’ve had a controversial ending there, I was winning the fight, it needs a part two.”
