Leigh Wood (boxer)

Last updated

Leigh Wood
Born (1988-08-01) 1 August 1988 (age 36)
Other namesLeigh-thal
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Reach67 in (170 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights31
Wins28
Wins by KO17
Losses3

Leigh Wood is an English professional boxer. He is a world featherweight champion, having held the World Boxing Association (WBA) title in 2023, having previously held the Regular versions from 2021 to 2022.

Contents

Professional career

Early career

Wood fought Gavin McDonnell for the British super bantamweight title on 22 February 2014 but lost after the fight was stopped in the 6th round due to Wood being stunned and unable to defend himself. Wood put on an impressive performance and was in control of the fight after winning the first 5 rounds, but prior to the fight Wood had to lose weight for himself to make the weight limit for the fight and after a few rounds Wood was becoming tired. [1] After the loss to McDonnell, Wood had a comeback fight against Martin Mubiru and put in good performance and earned a 3rd-round TKO. [2]

Then after 3 more fights and 3 more wins at featherweight, he stepped up in class to box the man who took his former foe to a draw Josh Wale in a British title eliminator. Wood outboxed Josh Wale for the majority of the fight finishing with last 2 of the 10 rounds with eye catching combinations and powerful right hands, winning the fight unanimously on all 3 scorecards. [3]

Wood's next fight was a redemption fight for the Midlands Area featherweight title against Lee Glover who beat Wood in the Amateurs 7 years prior.[ citation needed ] Wood came out in the first round pot shooting and making Glover miss before landing some big punches before the bell. The second round went the same way, finally Wood stopping Glover with a big left and perfectly picked flurry of punches, sending Glover to the canvas and not making the count. [4]

Wood faced Abraham Osei Bonsu for the vacant Commonwealth featherweight title on 2 March 2019. He made quick work of Bonsu, winning the fight by a second-round knockout. [5] Wood made his first title defence against the former Commonwealth featherweight champion Ryan Doyle on 10 May 2019. [6] Wood won the fight by a tenth-round knockout. He first staggered Doyle with a left hook and a flurry of punches, before knocking him out with a counter left hook. [7]

Wood challenged the reigning WBO European featherweight champion David Oliver Joyce in The Golden Contract Featherweight Tournament Quarter-final, which was held on 4 October 2019. He won the fight by a ninth-round technical knockout. [8] Wood made his first WBO European title defence against Jazza Dickens in The Golden Contract featherweight tournament semifinals on 21 February 2020. He lost the bout by a narrow majority decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 95–94 and 96–94 for Dickens, while the third judge scored the fight as an even 95–95 draw. [9]

WBA (Regular) featherweight champion

Wood vs. Xu

On 6 July 2021, it was announced that Wood would challenge WBA (Regular) featherweight champion Xu Can in Brentwood, Essex on 31 July as part of Matchroom's Fight Camp. [10] Xu came into the fight after 2 years of inactivity. [11] Wood outboxed the champion during periods of the fight, and prevailed with an upset victory via twelfth-round technical knockout. Xu was down on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage, with scores of 105–102, 104–103 and 104–103. [12] Wood landed 222 of his 935 total punches (24%) and 190 of his 477 power punches (40%), compared to Xu's 208 total and 136 power punches. [13]

Wood vs. Conlan

His first defence of his WBA Regular title came against Michael Conlan on 12 March 2022 at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham. Wood was knocked down in the final seconds of the first round, Conlan continued to dominate the fight for the next few rounds, but in the later rounds Wood came back into the fight, with Conlan going down in the 11th round, it was scored as a knockdown despite protests from Conlan's corner that it was a slip. In the 12th round, with Conlan being ahead on all the scorecards, [14] Wood managed to knock out Conlan 1:25 into the round, with Conlan falling through the ropes and being taken to hospital for checks. [15] Conlan said since that he is "all good" and that the scans were "clear". [16] Wood's twelfth-round technical knockout of Conlan was awarded as the winner of both The Ring magazine Fight of the Year 2022 and The Ring magazine Knockout of the Year 2022. [17]

WBA featherweight champion

Wood vs. Lara

On 6 April 2022, WBA formally ordered their "Super" champion Leo Santa Cruz to face Wood in a mandatory title defence. They gave the pair 30 days to come to terms and avoid a purse bid. [18] Matchroom Boxing argued for a 50-50 purse split in lieu of the traditional split between a "Super" champion and mandatory title challenger, which would've seen Santa Cruz receive the lion's share of the purse. As such, Santa Cruz's TGB Promotions and Wood's Matchroom Boxing were unable to reach a deal. [19]

On 19 July 2022, the WBA once again ordered their featherweight "Super" champion Leo Santa Cruz to face Wood and gave the champion 24 hours to respond to the order. Santa Cruz requested an exemption from his mandatory defence to face the WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas instead, which was denied by the sanctioning body. Santa Cruz then offered Wood step-aside money to postpone their fight so he could face Vargas, which was refused by Wood's camp. [20] On 1 August, the WBA notified both camps that a purse bid would be held on 12 August, with a minimum allowed bid of $150,000, with a 75% share going to Santa Cruz as the "Super" titlist. Matchroom Boxing previously submitted an appeal for an even purse split, which was refused by the WBA. [21] They avoided a purse bid, as the two sides reached an agreement to finalise the fight on 12 August. [22] The agreement wasn't to face each other however, but to pursue separate fights. This request was approved by the WBA on 24 August 2022. [23] The same day, it was announced that Wood would make his second WBA (Regular) title defence against Mauricio Lara. The title bout was expected to headline a DAZN broadcast card, which took place at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham in Nottingham, England, on 24 September 2022. [24] Wood withdrew from the fight ten days before it was supposed to take place, due to a torn biceps suffered in sparring. [25]

On 30 September, the WBA once again ordered Wood and Santa Cruz to enter into negotiations for a title consolidation bout. [26] On 12 December, Santa Cruz vacated his title and Wood was left as the sole champion in the division. [27] As the bout with Santa Cruz fell through, Wood was once again booked to make his first featherweight title defence against Mauricio Lara. The fight took place on 18 February 2023. [28] Wood was knocked down with a left hook near the end of the seventh round. Although he was able to rise from the canvas in time to beat the ten count, his trainer Ben Davison decided to throw in the towel six seconds before the end of the round. [29]

Lara vs. Wood II

Wood was fought a rematch with Mauricio Lara for the WBA featherweight title in the Manchester Arena, on May 27, 2023. [30] Lara missed weight by 3.8 lbs at the official weigh-ins and was stripped of the belt, leaving only Wood eligible to win the vacant championship. [31] Wood captured the vacant title by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 118–109 and one scorecard of 116–111. [32]

Wood vs. Warrington

Wood was ordered by the WBA, on 30 May 2023, to make a mandatory championship defense against the #1 ranked contender Otabek Kholmatov. [33] Exactly two months later however, the sanctioning body approved Wood's request to make a voluntary title defense against the former two-time IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington, with the stipulation that the winner face Kholmatov within 120 days of their fight taking place. [34] The fight took place on 7 October 2023, at the Utilita Arena Sheffield in Sheffield, England. [35] Wood won the fight by a seventh-round knockout. [36] He was down 58–56, 59–55 and 59–55 on the judges' scorecards at the time of the stoppage. [37] Warrington had furthermore landed nearly twice as many total punches (104 to 53) and power punches (79 to 40) by that point as well. [38] Wood vacated the featherweight championship with immediate effect on October 17, 2023. [39]

Professional boxing record

31 fights28 wins3 losses
By knockout172
By decision111
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
31Win28–3 Josh Warrington TKO7 (12), 3:007 Oct 2023 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, EnglandRetained WBA featherweight title
30Win27–3 Mauricio Lara UD12 27 May 2023 Manchester Arena, Manchester, EnglandWon vacant WBA featherweight title
29Loss26–3 Mauricio Lara TKO7 (12), 2:54 18 Feb 2023 Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, EnglandLost WBA featherweight title
28Win26–2 Michael Conlan TKO12 (12), 1:2512 Mar 2022 Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, EnglandRetained WBA (Regular) featherweight title
27Win25–2 Xu Can TKO12 (12), 2:4331 Jul 2021Matchroom Headquarters, Brentwood, EnglandWon WBA (Regular) featherweight title
26Win24–2Reece MouldTKO9 (12), 1:0313 Feb 2021 The SSE Arena, London, EnglandWon vacant British featherweight title
25Loss23–2 Jazza Dickens MD1021 Feb 2020York Hall, London, EnglandLost WBO European featherweight title;
The Golden Contract: Featherweight – Semi-final
24Win23–1 David Oliver Joyce TKO9 (10), 2:234 Oct 2019 York Hall, London, EnglandWon WBO European featherweight title;
The Golden Contract: Featherweight – Quarter-final
23Win22–1 Ryan Doyle KO10 (12), 1:3410 May 2019 Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, EnglandRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
22Win21–1Abraham Osei BonsuKO2 (12), 2:432 Mar 2019East of England Arena, Peterborough, EnglandWon vacant Commonwealth featherweight title
21Win20–1Rafael CastilloTKO3 (6), 1:313 Mar 2018Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
20Win19–1Reynaldo MoraPTS625 Nov 2017 Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Nottingham, England
19Win18–1Simas VolosinasPTS424 Jun 2017Bingham Leisure Centre, Nottingham, England
18Win17–1 Lee Glover TKO2 (10), 1:0626 Mar 2016Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, EnglandWon vacant Midlands Area featherweight title
17Win16–1 Josh Wale PTS1024 Oct 2015Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
16Win15–1Isaac OwusuKO4 (6), 0:3525 Jul 2015 Derby Arena, Derby, England
15Win14–1Laszio FeketeTKO1 (4), 3:0028 Mar 2015 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
14Win13–1Janis PuksinsTKO2 (6), 1:297 Mar 2015Mares Leisure Centre, Nottingham, England
13Win12–1 Martin Mubiru TKO3 (8), 1:0616 May 2014Rushcliffe Arena, Nottingham, England
12Loss11–1 Gavin McDonnell TKO6 (12), 2:0322 Feb 2014 Ice Arena, Hull, EnglandFor vacant British super-bantamweight title
11Win11–0Simas VolosinasPTS413 Dec 2013 Ice Sheffield, Sheffield, England
10Win10–0Genilson de Jesus SantosRTD3 (10), 3:001 Nov 2013Clifton Leisure Centre, Nottingham, England
9Win9–0Ian BaileyTKO2 (10), 1:4322 Jun 2013Clifton Leisure Centre, Nottingham, England
8Win8–0Sid RazakPTS613 Apr 2013 Ponds Forge, Sheffield, England
7Win7–0Kristian LaightPTS42 Feb 2013East of England Arena, Peterborough, England
6Win6–0Tibor MeszarosTKO1 (6), 1:598 Dec 2012 KC Sports Arena, Hull, England
5Win5–0Dai DaviesPTS417 Nov 2012 Capital FM Arena, Nottingham, England
4Win4–0Chuck JonesRTD1 (4), 3:0028 Sep 2012Magna Centre, Rotherham, England
3Win3–0Pavels SenkovsPTS418 Feb 2012 Magna Centre, Rotherham, England
2Win2–0Ryan McNicolPTS412 Nov 2011 Event City, Manchester, England
1Win1–0Chuck JonesPTS628 Oct 2011Clifton Leisure Centre, Nottingham, England

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References

  1. "Gavin McDonnell vs. Leigh Wood - BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  2. "Please login". boxrec.com. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  3. "Leigh Wood beats Josh Wale on points to secure British featherweight title shot". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  4. Curtis, Leigh (1 March 2018). "FIGHT ME! Wood accuses rivals of running scared as he chases domestic glory". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  5. "Abram Osei Bonsu Loses Commonwealth Title". africansportsmonthly.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  6. Gilbert, Peter (9 May 2019). "Leigh Wood promises 'career-best' performance in Commonwealth title defence against Ryan Doyle". skysports.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  7. Gilbert, Peter (11 May 2019). "JD NTXGEN: Leigh Wood stops Ryan Doyle to retain Commonwealth belt". skysports.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  8. Gilbert, Peter (5 October 2019). "Golden Contract: Leigh Wood stops David Oliver Joyce in thrilling scrap". skysports.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  9. Curtis, Leigh (21 February 2020). "Leigh Wood suffers narrow points defeat to Jazza Dickens in thriller at York Hall". nottinghampost.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  10. Stumberg, Patrick L. (6 July 2021). "Xu Can vs Leigh Wood joins Benn-Granados on July 31st". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. Williams, Joe. "Can Xu vs. Leigh Wood fight odds, picks and prediction". The Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  12. Christ, Scott (31 July 2021). "Fight Camp results and highlights: Leigh Wood drops and stops Xu Can to take WBA featherweight belt". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. Parkinson, Nick (1 August 2021). "Leigh Wood shocks Xu Can, takes WBA 'regular' featherweight title by TKO in 12th". espn.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  14. Staff, BoxingScene (13 March 2022). "Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan - Official Scorecards". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  15. "Wood knocks out Conlan to retain title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  16. "'What happened? Did I lose?' - Conlan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  17. Harty, Brian (13 January 2023). "2022 Knockout of the Year: Leigh Wood KO 12 Michael Conlan". The Ring. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  18. Stumberg, Patrick L. (6 April 2022). "WBA orders Leo Santa Cruz vs Leigh Wood for featherweight title". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  19. Donovan, Jake (1 June 2022). "Leo Santa Cruz-Leigh Wood Title Fight Remains On Hold, Pending WBA Purse Split Resolution". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  20. Songalia, Ryan (19 July 2022). "WBA Denies Leo Santa Cruz Request To Unify, Orders Him To Face Leigh Wood Next". ringtv.com. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  21. Donovan, Jake (2 August 2022). "Leo Santa Cruz-Leigh Wood: WBA Schedules August 12 Purse Bid Hearing". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  22. Donovan, Jake (12 August 2022). "Leo Santa Cruz, Leigh Wood Reach Agreement For Title Consolidation Fight, Purse Bid Suspended". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  23. Donovan, Jake (24 August 2022). "WBA Permits Leo Santa Cruz, Leigh Wood To Enter Separate Featherweight Title Fights". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  24. Random Hits (24 August 2022). "Leigh Wood vs. Mauricio Lara Tops DAZN Tripleheader on September 24". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  25. Random Hits (13 September 2022). "Leigh Wood (Biceps) Injured, Lara Fight Postponed; Galahad-Hughes Elevated To Sept. 24 Main Event". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  26. Donovan, Jake (30 September 2022). "Leo Santa Cruz-Leigh Wood: WBA To Reorder Title Consolidation Clash". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  27. "Leo Santa Cruz Vacates WBA 'Super' Featherweight Title; Leigh Wood Now Full Titleholder - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  28. Stumberg, Patrick L. (9 January 2023). "Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara rescheduled for February 18th in Nottingham". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  29. Emons, Michael (18 February 2023). "Relive the action - Lara stops Wood to win WBA featherweight title". bbc.com. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  30. "Britain's Wood will face Lara in Manchester rematch". BBC Sport.
  31. Donovan, Jake (26 May 2023). "WBA Featherweight Title At Stake Only For Leigh Wood; Mauricio Lara Well Over Limit". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  32. Donovan, Jake (27 May 2023). "Leigh Wood Regains WBA Title, Wins Dominant Decision Over Mauricio Lara". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  33. Donovan, Jake (30 May 2023). "Leigh Wood-Otabek Khlomatov: WBA Formally Orders Mandatory Title Fight". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  34. Donovan, Jake (30 July 2023). "WBA Approves Leigh Wood-Josh Warrington Title Fight; Winner Mandated To Face Otabek Kholmatov". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  35. Random Hits (31 July 2023). "Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington on October 7 at Utilita Arena Sheffield". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  36. Christ, Scott (7 October 2023). "Leigh Wood stuns Josh Warrington with comeback TKO win: Full fight highlights and results". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  37. "Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington scorecards show just how badly champion needed come-from-behind knockout". talkSPORT. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  38. Compubox (8 October 2023). "Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington - CompuBox Punch Stats". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  39. Stumberg, Patrick L. (17 October 2023). "Leigh Wood vacates featherweight title, moves to 130". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Bobby Jenkinson
BBBofC Midlands Area
featherweight champion

26 March 2016 – 2 March 2019
Won Commonwealth title
Vacant
Title next held by
James Beech Jnr
Vacant
Title last held by
Jordan Gill
Commonwealth
featherweight champion

2 March 2019 – 2021
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Nathaniel Collins
Preceded by WBO European
featherweight champion

4 October 2019 – 21 February 2020
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Ryan Walsh
British featherweight champion
13 February 2021 – 31 July 2021
Won world title
Vacant
Title next held by
Nathaniel Collins
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA featherweight champion
31 July 2021 – 18 February 2023
Regular title until 12 December 2022
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Mauricio Lara
WBA featherweight champion
27 May 2023 – 17 October 2023
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Raymond Ford
Awards
Previous:
Tyson Fury vs.
Deontay Wilder III
The Ring Fight of the Year
vs. Michael Conlan

2022
Succeeded by
BWAA Fight of the Year
vs. Michael Conlan

2022
Succeeded by
Previous:
Gabriel Rosado
KO3 Bektemir Melikuziev
The Ring Knockout of the Year
TKO12 Michael Conlan

2022
Next:
Junto Nakatani
KO12 Andrew Moloney