Leigh Wood Announces Exciting Return to Boxing After Long Break
Leigh Wood, a true champion of the featherweight division, is set to make his long-awaited return to the boxing ring after a 14-month hiatus. The Nottingham-based fighter, known for his dramatic rise to becoming a two-time featherweight world champion, has confirmed that he is moving up to super-featherweight (130lbs) for his next fight. After taking time off, Wood is ready to silence retirement rumors and begin a new chapter in his career.
From Domestic Defeat to World Champion
It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Wood, who faced a setback in 2020 after a loss to Jazza Dickens. Many believed Wood would remain confined to the domestic boxing scene. However, a stunning knockout victory over Reece Mould for the Lonsdale Belt set the stage for his next challenge — a WBA (Regular) title shot against Can Xu. In what would become one of the most significant wins of his career, Wood stopped Xu in the final round, defying the odds and claiming the WBA title.
This victory was just the beginning of his meteoric rise. Wood went on to defeat undefeated Michael Conlan, stopping the Irishman with a knockout in the final seconds of a memorable clash. These incredible performances saw Wood crowned as the full WBA featherweight world champion. While his title defense against the powerful Mauricio Lara ended in defeat, Wood quickly reclaimed his crown, outboxing Lara in their rematch for the full 12 rounds.
Despite struggles with the 126lb weight limit, Wood continued to defy expectations, even knocking out Josh Warrington in October 2023 while behind on the scorecards. However, after his grueling efforts at featherweight, Wood confirmed he was ready to move up and take on the super-featherweight division.
A New Era: Wood’s Move to Super-Featherweight
Wood has now confirmed his ring return will come at 130lbs, signaling the start of an exciting new chapter in his career. In an exclusive interview with Boxing News, Wood shared that his return is expected to be in spring 2024, with a headline bout on the horizon. While he couldn’t reveal all the details, Wood made it clear that this next fight is something he is incredibly excited about.
“I’ve been out in the wilderness for a while,” Wood said, expressing his eagerness to get back in the ring. “It was really hard to make the weight since winning the world title, but I had to defend it. Now I’m excited to have some extra weight to play with, though it’ll still be tough to make.”
With 17 knockouts in 28 wins, Wood is confident that he can compete with the bigger, more powerful opponents in the super-featherweight division. He’s already eyeing IBF champion Anthony Cacace and believes that no current champion in the division is beyond his reach.
Fans Can Expect Thrilling Fights Ahead
Wood has been very vocal about his gratitude for the support he’s received throughout his career, particularly from his Nottingham-based fans. “There’s no feeling like boxing in my hometown,” Wood said. “The fans make the difference, and I can’t thank them enough for all the support.”
His return will also mark the end of his free agency after leaving Matchroom Boxing in 2023. Wood has signed a multi-fight deal with a new promotional team and promises that 2024 will be a year filled with the most exciting fights of his career. He ended his message to fans with a promise: “I will be making up for the layoff with the biggest and best fights to date. See you soon!”
Leigh Wood’s return to boxing is sure to spark new excitement in the sport. His journey from adversity to world champion has made him a fan favorite, and now, with a fresh opportunity ahead of him, he’s ready to take the super-featherweight division by storm.
