Wood vs Warringon – DAZN – Oct. 7 – 2 pm ET

Leigh Wood is set to defend his WBA Featherweight World Title against fellow British contender Josh Warrington on Saturday, October 7, at the neutral venue of Utilita Arena Sheffield, and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Nottingham’s beloved pugilist, Wood (27-3, 16 KOs), rose to fame once again by recapturing his WBA 126lbs title with a spectacular 12-round duel against Mexico’s  Mauricio Lara in May at Manchester’s AO Arena. His victory reaffirmed his status as one of Britain’s most prolific two-time World Champions.

Wood, fondly dubbed ‘Leigh-thal,’ suffered a setback when he lost his World Title in a seventh-round knockout at the hands of ‘Bronco’ at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham earlier this year. Undeterred, the 34-year-old Gedling warrior showcased determination and resilience, prompting an immediate rematch. On the fateful night, Lara was left helpless against Wood’s superior form, which secured Wood  a points win, scored 118-109 x 2 and 116-111.

Warrington (31-2-1, 8 KOs), the pride of Leeds, is looking to  secure his third Featherweight World Champion title. His ambition was fueled after losing his IBF belt to Mexico’s Luis Alberto Lopez in a close fight at the First Direct Arena last December. This represented his first defeat on home turf.

Known as ‘The Leeds Warrior,’ Warrington successfully recouped the IBF title by overpowering Kiko Martinez in Leeds in March 2022. He grounded the Spaniard in the opening round and terminated the contest in the seventh round, providing a thrilling performance for his passionate fanbase.

Warrington, eager to get back to the peak of the division, understands that a victory over his British rival would set the stage for a unification rematch against Lopez, who recently floored Michael Conlan within five rounds.

“I’m extremely excited for October 7,” Wood shared. “Considering the fan bases we’ve built, the associated football clubs, and our cities, this match is arguably the pinnacle of British boxing rivalry. ”

Warrington echoed the sentiment, stating, ” There’s nothing quite like a domestic showdown for a World Title! I’m fixated on becoming a three-weight World Champion and reasserting my dominance, and that determination will shine through on the night.”

Undercard: Harper Battles Former Pound-for-pound No.1 Braekhus

On October 7th, the spotlight will be on Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, where Terri Harper will go head-to-head with former pound-for-pound champ, Cecilia Braekhus. They’re fighting for not just one, but two titles: the WBA and WBO Super-Welterweight World Titles. And for those who can’t make it to Sheffield? No worries—you can watch the action unfold live on DAZN.

Their showdown was meant to happen earlier, on the undercard of the Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron bout in Dublin’s 3Arena. But fate had other plans, and Braekhus had to pull out due to illness. But now, the stage is set again.

Harper is no stranger to the world title scene, having held the WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight World Championships. Her record is impressive, with 13 wins, one loss, and one draw, and she’s knocked out her opponent six times. Last year, she nabbed the WBA 154lbs World Title after besting Scotland’s Hannah Rankin in Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena.

The ‘First Lady’ of boxing, Braekhus hails from Norway and carries an enviable record of 37 wins and just 2 losses, 9 of those wins by knockout. She’s a former undisputed champion at 147lbs, and now she’s got her sights set on becoming a two-division World Champion.

Braekhus held the WBC and WBA World Titles at Welterweight from 2009 to 2020. She added the WBO Title to her trophy cabinet in 2010, and the IBF Title in 2014. She lost these titles to Jessica McCaskill in 2020 and again in 2021, marking her only professional losses.

Tickets are available in a range of prices, from £40 to a VIP option at £400.

Tickets for the Wood vs. Warrington showdown range from £40 to £400 (VIP). Matchroom Fight Pass members can secure tickets from 10am on Thursday, August 3. General Sale tickets will be available from Stage Front and Utilita Arena Sheffield (utilitaarenasheffield.co.uk) starting 10am on Friday, August 4.