Former two-time IBF featherweight champion Josh ‘The Leeds Warrior’ Warrington 31-3 (8)wants a rematch against WBA 126-pound champion Leigh Wood 28-3 (17) after what he believes was a premature stoppage at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England on Saturday night.
The 32-year-old Warrington had the better of the action through the first half of the bout, outworking Wood and confusing him with his speed. Apart from being docked a point in the seventh for rabbit punches, Warrington had it all his own way.
That was until Wood, who was largely boxing out of the southpaw stance, landed a right hook late in the round that stunned Warrington before launching a follow-up assault that sent him crashing to the canvas.
Warrington made it to his feet but walked to the ropes and had his back to referee Michael Alexander when he waved off the contest. At the time Warrington was leading 58-56 and 59-55 twice.
“I switched off for a second. The time that I’ve been out of the ring, 10 months and straight into a big one,” Warrington said after the fight.
“He caught me with a good shot, but I felt good. I was listening to the count, ‘six, seven, eight’ and I turned around, and [referee Alexander] was waving his arms. I heard the clock and there was ten seconds to go.
“I’m disappointed and feel let down. It’s two losses on a bounce. It’s stoppage. It is what it is. I’d like to run it back again. I felt like I was cruising it and cruising it. Don’t get me wrong, I felt rusty at times because I’ve been out of the ring.
“Maybe we can run it back. It was a great fight. Maybe we can do it again.”
Warrington believes he could have continued if given the chance.
“I just feel a bit hard done by, it was the end of round, get to my feet, look at my dad with a smile on my face, turn round at [the count of] eight and it’s being waved off,” Warrington said.
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes Warrington’s showing warrants a rematch.
“It’s going to take a big fight for Leigh Wood at the City Ground. I want to see the fight back,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said.
“If Josh would have turned round, they would have 100 percent let the fight carry on. If the ref did call it off at eight, it was too early because he should have given him the opportunity to turn around.
“The ref said to me ‘he wouldn’t turn round and if he doesn’t turn round I can’t let him continue’. When you look at frontrunners for sizes of fights at the City Ground, I think the rematch is probably the biggest one.”
