Leigh Wood dominates Josh Warrington for wide decision win in all-British battle of former champions

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Leigh Wood dominates Josh Warrington for wide decision win in all-British battle of former champions

Leigh Wood outboxed Josh Warrington for a one-sided unanimous decision win in their all-British grudge rematch Saturday at the Nottingham Arena in Nottingham, England.

Wood (29-4, 17 KOs) successfully defended his then-WBA featherweight title against Warrington in October 2023. Warrington looked to be miles ahead on the scorecards at the halfway point of that first contest, however Wood produced a dramatic turnaround in Round 7, stopping Wood with a combination in Sheffield.

Saturday’s rematch had no such drama.

Wood, 37, who fought the whole contest in the southpaw stance, managed to consistently beat Warrington (32-5-1, 8 KOs) to the punch. His sharpness, footwork and distance control allowed him to dominate large spells of rounds. Warrington’s attacks were one-and-done, while Wood controlled the majority of the frames.

There was a noticeable lack of volume from Warrington, who is usually known for his punch output. It allowed Wood to box comfortably with his hands down and keep the fight at long range. When Warrington did try to break the gap, he had occasional success with jabs and right hands, but Wood would simply tie him up and rest or pivot back to the center of the ring.

Too often, Warrington, 35, was hesitant to let his hands go. After being knocked out in the first fight, Warrington had his hands glued to his face for large portions of the second meeting, clearly wary of being hit clean. Both are signs that Warrington’s best days are long past him and he could be headed for retirement.

In fact, in their post-fight interviews, neither man ruled out tonight being their final in a boxing ring.

“My body felt good,” Wood said after his win. “Mentally, I felt good. Physically, I felt good. Little bit more nervous going in because I’ve had a long time out of the ring.

“I know what you’re hinting at — I’m not too sure yet [if I’ll retire]. I’m not going to make a decision on the spot. But what a fight to finish on if it is the last one.”

“I’m not going to make a decision [right now],” Warrington echoed about a potential retirement. “I’ve only been down here a week [but] I miss my kids immensely. I’m not going to make no rash decisions.

“With that being said, I can’t keep coming out here, when people are spending their hard-earned money, and not giving it absolutely everything. I tried my best. I wanted it bad, I wanted it so bad.”

In the night’s co-feature, Bilal Fawaz defeated Ishmael Davis by majority decision (114-114, 115-113, 115-114) to capture the British and Commonwealth titles.

Elsewhere on the card, Sandy Ryan won the WBC super lightweight title with a controversial nod over Karla Ramos Zamora by majority decision (95-95, 97-93, 97-93).

Check out full Wood vs. Warrington 2 results and highlights below, as well as Uncrowned’s play-by-play of the main card.

Main card

Super featherweight: Leigh Wood def. Josh Warrington via unanimous decision (119-109, 119-110, 117-111)

Super welterweight: Bilal Fawaz def. Ishmael Davis via majority decision (114-114, 115-113, 115-114)

Heavyweight: David Allen def. Karim Berredjem via first-round TKO | Watch video

WBC super lightweight title: Sandy Ryan def. Karla Ramos Zamora via majority decision (95-95, 97-93, 97-93)

Heavyweight: Leo Atang def. Dan Garber via first-round TKO | Watch video

Prelims

Bantamweight: Tiah Mai Ayton def. Catherine Tacone Ramos via points (77-75)

Super bantamweight: Molly McCann def. Beata Dudek via points (60-55)

Welterweight: Joe Howarth def. Dan Booth via points (40-36)

Live coverage is over62 updates

Sat, February 21, 2026 at 6:03 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 6:01 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:55 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Three minutes to go, and surely Wood is three minutes away from victory. Tony Bellew has given Wood one round, while Carl Frampton has it a shut-out. Left hand to the body connects for Wood. Warrington STUMBLES as Wood lands a left hand down the middle. Warrington swings but cannot judge the distance correctly. Wood lands with a combination as the Nottingham crowd screams in support. Nice right from Warrington to end the contest.

10-9 Wood, 118-110 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:50 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

The atmosphere is non-existent now. The first fight between Wood and Warrington was a thriller, as many of the fights between these two have been, but tonight is a one-sided showing from Wood. He lost many of the first seven rounds against Wood in their first fight but in the rematch, it hasn’t been overly competitive in the second fight.

Left hook from Warrington at the halfway point. It is second-best in comparison to Wood’s shot selection and sharp footwork, though. Warrington’s best asset is his volume, and he just doesn’t have that tonight.

10-9 Wood, 108-101 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:47 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

The action is lulling big time as Wood is controlling proceedings. Warrington hasn’t had any moments of success in this, the tenth frame. Wood is boxing brilliantly behind his jab, using his footwork and distance control to beat Warrington to the punch every time. Wood spent his early days at the Dominic Ingle gym, and this performance is reminiscent of a prime Ingle fighter. Right-hand from Warrington to end the tenth frame.

10-9 Wood, 98-92 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:43 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Left hand from Wood to begin Round 9. Wood is having a terrific spell in this fight. Warrington lands with a pair of stiff jabs. Wood responds with a left hand. A third jab — this one knocked back the head of Wood. Warrington is struggling to pin Wood down. Left hand breaks the guard from Wood. Wood is doing a great job of dominating the moments in between exchanges, and that is winning him this fight.

10-9 Wood, 88-83 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:36 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Left hand gets through for Wood as Warrington was looking to close the gap. Left-hand, right hook connects for Wood. Southpaw lead hook from Wood, followed by a body shot. Wood and Warrington traded power shots that time. Into the final minute, and it could be another round for Wood. Nice right-hand scores for Warrington. Left hand down the middle from Wood. Left hook from Warrington finds the target.

10-9 Wood, 68-65 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:31 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

There is an argument that Wood is winning wider than Uncrowned’s scorecard, but Wood is landing quite a few punches on the guard, while Warrington’s shots seem to have a noticeable impact on Wood. Jab from Warrington. They trade on the inside and Wood got the better of it. Wood opens up with a combination, mostly blocked by Warrington. Another hook to the uppercut two-piece counter from the Nottingham man.

10-9 Wood, 58-56 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:28 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

DAZN’s unofficial scorers have it a shutout to Wood, 40-36.

Nice combination from Wood — the right hook momentarily stunned Warrington. It was the right hook that hurt Warrington in Round 7 of their first fight. Right hand from Warrington knocks back the head of Wood. Warrington is having success with power shots, but there isn’t enough volume or bodywork or use of the jab. Left-hand, right hook lands for Wood. Nice one-twos down the middle from Wood. Another right-hand from Warrington finds a home. A third right from Warrington, followed by a hook.

10-9 Warrington, 48-47 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:22 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Leigh Wood complained about Warrington’s use of the headbutt in the first fight. In the rematch, it’s a southpaw-orthodox battle, and so head clashes are naturally more inevitable and several have happened already. Right hand gets through for Warrington. Left hand from Warrington brings up the head of Wood. The power shots have come from Warrington but Wood is outboxing him for large portions of the round. Wood connects with a short left hand. Fantastic left uppercut from Wood to close the fourth stanza.

10-9 Wood, 39-37 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:18 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Warrington did better in Round 2 with the single power punches, but he was outlanded. Nice uppercut from Wood through the middle. Warringtom backs Wood up with a combination, and Wood looks TROUBLED here! Wood had his hands down as he was backing up. Wood is uncomfortable defensively in the southpaw stance. He’s not a natural southpaw. Terrific check hook from Wood, followed by a body punch. Uppercut-hook two-piece from Wood. Lead hook scores for Warrington.

10-9 Warrington, 29-28 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:13 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Left hand to the body lands for Wood. Wood with some nice shots on the inside, but Warrington found a left hand on the inside as well. They clash heads. Nice left hook on the top of the head for Warrington and Wood staggered forward in the clinch. Wood is bloodied but connects with a strong right hook. Southpaw left from Wood to the head and then the body. Wood walks Warrington into a two-piece. Brilliant right hand from Warrington that sent Wood backward a few steps.

10-9 Wood, 20-18 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:08 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Wood comes out southpaw for their highly anticipated domestic rematch. The atmosphere is raucous for this one. Both men are trying to start fast. An exchange in the center of the ring as Warrington was trying to back Wood up. Now, Wood looks to push Warrington back with a southpaw jab. Nothing has landed clean from either through the first half. Nice cuffing right hook from Wood. He is confident with his hands down. Warrington is unable to break the distance without getting caught. And when Warrington does close the gap, Wood is able to smother and hold.

10-9 Wood
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Leigh Wood faces Josh Warrington in an all-British super featherweight rematch.

Wood (28-4, 17 KOs) scored a dramatic seventh-round stoppage of Warrington in October 2023, but was stopped himself in nine rounds by Anthony Cacace this past May.

Warrington (32-4-1, 8 KOs) is a two-time former IBF featherweight world champion. He held the title from 2017 to 2021 and then again in 2022. “The Leeds Warrior” was well ahead on the scorecards in his first fight with Wood before being controversially stopped in the seventh round.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 20: Leigh Wood (left, red scarf) and Josh Warrington Weigh In ahead of their Super Featherweight Contest tomorrow night on February 20, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images).

(Mark Robinson via Getty Images)
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 4:50 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 4:40 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 4:36 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

DAZN comfortably has Fawaz ahead, as do a lot of people. Nice body shot from Fawaz. Fawaz finds a combination as Davis was on the ropes. Another flurry from Fawaz. The eye-catching work has come from him. Fawaz is bullying Davis around the ring. It’s been a real fight of two halves.

10-9 Fawaz, 114-114
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 4:32 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

A fight that looked to be heading for a shutout for Davis could now be edging Fawaz’s way. Uncrowned has Davis up by two, but one or two of the first six rounds could’ve gone to Fawaz — and therefore you may have him up. Nice trio of straight punches from Fawaz. Ishmael Davis eats a power shot and bundles over a few seconds later. Davis is exhausted. Two hooks go in from Fawaz. Fawaz is working on the inside with a flurry of shots. Davis takes another deep breath as Fawaz walks around the ring and admires his work. Another strong attack from Fawaz to close out the penultimate frame.

10-9 Fawaz, 105-104 Davis
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 4:28 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Fawaz continues to put pressure on what looks to be a fatigued. and lethargic Davis. Lovely short right hand from Fawaz — and another one. Fawaz has landed more punches now. They trade on the inside. Both have success. Fawaz is dancing around the ring behind his jab — he might have enough energy for 24 rounds. Fawaz is leaping from one side of the ring to another. He is having a lot of fun in there. Left hook lands for Davis. Nice attack from Fawaz to force Davis backward.

10-9 Fawaz, 96-94 Davis
Sat, February 21, 2026 at 4:23 p.m. EST
Darshan Desai

Two DAZN pundits have Fawaz up, which is quite interesting. Two have Davis up — Uncrowned has him up comfortably. Nice right hand over the top from Davis. Short right for Fawaz. Davis seems to have less energy in the tank, while Fawaz is relaxed. Combination scores for Fawaz include a solid right down the middle. Left hook-right hand from Fawaz. Counter-right from Fawaz now. What a turnaround this is — a perfect example of a fight of two halves. Combination from Fawaz pushes Davis back and he continues to flurry at the Leeds man. Davis looked tired and he is eating shots on the inside. Best round of the fight for Fawaz.

10-9 Fawaz, 87-84 Davis