Former two-time world featherweight champion Josh Warrington has returned from a family holiday and had hoped his return would be met with fight news.
However, the Leeds warrior is patiently waiting, and hoping, that he will be once again paired with domestic rival Leigh Wood.
The two shared a cracking bout in October 2023. Warrington had plenty of moments in the fight, but Wood applied the finisher in the seventh round.
It was contentious, however, with Warrington contending he could have fought on.
Warrington did not fight again for more than a year before losing a decision to in-form Irishman Anthony Cacace in September in his only outing of 2024 and, in April, he decisioned Asad Asif Khan in Sheffield over 10 rounds.
“I’ve been told by my team we’re looking at a potential rematch with an old opponent of mine, Mr Leigh Wood,” said Warrington, who is all but ready to go.
“I’m good. I’m pretty fit now, to be fair. I haven’t really stopped training since my last little run out in April. Last year I didn’t really get a chance to get away with family because of a few things and my wife was pregnant again, so we just took a little break and got away, I had a week off or so, and I thought I’d resume training as soon as I get back. At this moment in time, it doesn’t look like anything’s been finalized and confirmed, so I’m just waiting.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn has said the Wood fight could happen in October, but even if it does not, he expects Warrington to be out then.
“Yeah, this is what I was hearing too,” added Warrington. “For myself that’s a perfect time for me, coming back to a certain level, shall we say, and getting a bit of momentum going. “Obviously we’ve got a bit of history there, and as time goes by people sometimes think, ‘Oh, you know, a bit of momentum’s lost’ and, ‘What’s Warrington got left?’ but I think that’s a fight [with Wood] that can do a couple of things. One, it can bring the attention back, because obviously we’ve got a bit of history, and since our fight things have been a bit sour. Two, I think once I perform like I know I can still perform, people say, ‘Wow,’ even if they do say, ‘Oh, Leigh Wood’s took a hard couple of years.’ They won’t be able to ignore the fact that I’ve still got it and some more in the tank. It’s a fight that I know that he would like, also, I think, and it’s a fight I definitely want. I want to put that to bed. I’m just waiting to see what the powers that be [decide].”
A few venues have been mentioned, including one in Europe, and Warrington would be happy to take his significant fanbase on the road if required.
“Obviously I got a bit excited about that, because obviously for a long time I’ve talked about wanting to go away and take my loyal fan base, give them an away day,” he said, “But, like I said, I went away and I thought I’d come back with some news and, just ramp up the training and stuff. I’m still training hard.”
