WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood and former IBF champ Josh Warrington faced off at the final press conference ahead of their world title fight on DAZN Saturday night.
Leigh Wood: “A KO is a possibility, I am not going to go out there banking on knocking him out, but I am going to be dominant. I know Josh is very tough, I’ve been ringside for a number of his fights, especially the Kiko fight, that sticks out for me. He got hurt and he was close to being stopped himself when he got his stoppage, so I know he can bite down and give everything he needs to, but at what cost because there will be times in this fight when he needs to work extremely hard just to win a moment, and I will make him pay for those moments.”
Josh Warrington: “I’m not offended that I am not the favorite, if anything it’s motivation. Leigh is the champion, and I’ve been given this opportunity so I am very grateful for that. What does annoy me is being written off, I’m finished, that’s given me the bit between my teeth. Last year I dominated Kiko Martinez inside seven rounds and I dominated the second half of the Lopez fight, and people are talking about how well he’s done since our fight…I know I have enough to hurt Leigh and I am very confident that he doesn’t hear the final bell.”
In his last fight with Lopez, Warrington looked strong and confident especially in the last 4 rounds, which he dominated. Had he fought well in the early or middle rounds he would have won the fight. Although he lost, he was mentally in a good place to prepare for this fight which I see him winning if he keeps pressing the action and beating Wood to the punch. He is the younger fighter and contrary to what some fight commentators are saying I see him as the fresher fighter. As most fans know, this will be an all-action, highly entertaining bout.
Yea but lopez is lopez and wood is wood
Couldn’t, shouldn’t, would’ve but DIDN’T!
Wood is the definition of a gutsy fighter and I hope he gets a few defences under his belt. He deserves it