Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington 2 betting tips: Two selections as Warrington looks for revenge

Former world champions Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington are set to meet for the second time in an all-British super-featherweight dust-up in Nottingham on Saturday.

Wood will have a home crowd on side at the Nottingham Arena and Leigh-thal will be hoping to repeat his 2023 featherweight success over the Leeds Warrior.

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Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington 2 betting tips

• Fight not to go the distance @ Evs
• Josh Warrington @ 13/10

Faded stars stepping into the unknown

Wood has enjoyed an excellent career which has seen the Nottingham man win British, Commonwealth, European and the WBA world featherweight title.

Leigh-thal also defeated British rival Warrington three years ago and, while the market anticipates a repeat victory in Nottingham on Saturday, it may not play out quite how the betting suggest.

Wood is now a 37-year-old fighter, who has always been vulnerable to power.

Leigh-thal had the towel thrown in against Anthony Cacace last year, it was the same result in his first contest with Mauricio Lara and Michael Conlon also had the Nottingham man on the deck.

Cacace has developed into a top-level performer, but Lara has done little since his victory 2023 over Wood and Conlon can’t be described as a big puncher.

It’s difficult to think that Wood could have developed any more punch resistance at this stage of his career and Wood’s speed, power and movement, which have been his key assets, may also be in decline.

The 37-year-old has fought only once since beating Warrington in 2023 and that contest ended in a bruising defeat to Cacace last May.

There are concerns for Warrington too, with the Leeds Warrior winning only one of his last four contests.

That was a low-key success over Asad Asif Khan, which counts for little in the context of Saturday’s bout, and the defeats have come to Wood, Luis Alberto Lopez and Cacace.

Clearly, Warrington hasn’t been particularly active himself, with just two bouts following his 2023 loss to Wood, but the 35-year-old did go 12 rounds with Cacace, who rates a seriously improved boxer, 15 months ago.

It’s difficult to know how much is left in Warrington’s tank, but the Leeds man was a tough, durable and relentless IBF featherweight king at his peak and perhaps he may have a little more to give.

Warrington does at least have two years on his 37-year-old opponent, and while the Leeds Warrior has been stopped by Lara and Wood, he may well be able to get a faded Leigh-thal out before the final bell.

The 35-year-old is a 13/10 chance to upset Wood on home turf this weekend and that could be worth a small play.

Of course, Wood’s power may prove too much once again, but adding a bet on the fight not to go the distance would cover both outcomes.

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