Leigh Wood produces another come-from-behind knockout, defeating Josh Warrington to defend belt

WBA featherweight titleholder Leigh Wood once again produced a come-from-behind thriller, knocking out Josh Warrington in the seventh round on Saturday at Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England.

Wood had been thoroughly outclassed before he caught an off balance Warrington with a crisp right hook to the jaw, then followed up with another series of hooks that sent Warrington to the canvas. The challenger beat the count, but referee Michael Alexander halted the action as Warrington was in no condition to continue despite his protests.

It was yet another dramatic knockout for Wood, who knocked out Xu Can in the 12th round for the belt in July 2021, before doing the same to Michael Conlan in 2022's fight of the year.

The 35-year-old Wood (28-3, 17 KOs), of Nottingham, who secured the second defense of his world title, struggled for much of the fight as Warrington swarmed him with immense pressure, unable to set up his punches.

But one punch changed history in the seventh round when Wood nailed Warrington with a right hook to the jaw he never saw something. Once Wood sensed his man was in danger, he followed up with five more hooks before his English rival crashed to the floor.

"I've got game changers," Wood said in the ring."I knew the further the fight goes on, the sloppier he gets and the more chances I get. I didn't stick to the game plan well, I got disorientated after getting hit in the back of my head. I got the knockout in the end. Maybe we can run it back. I was disorientated early on with a shot at the back of the head, but we got there in the end."