Wood vs Warrington II: Unfinished Business at the Motorpoint Arena

Two and a half years after one of British boxing's most controversial stoppages, Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington will settle the score in Nottingham on February 21, 2026.

The long-awaited rematch between Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington headlines a stacked Matchroom Boxing card at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena this Saturday, live on DAZN. What began as a simmering rivalry between two of Britain's most popular fighters has evolved into one of the most anticipated domestic showdowns of 2026 — a fight where pride, redemption, and potentially entire careers hang in the balance.

The First Fight: A Seventh-Round Controversy

Their first meeting in Sheffield on October 7, 2023, produced one of the most talked-about finishes in recent British boxing history. Warrington, the former two-time IBF featherweight champion, had controlled the fight from the opening bell, building a commanding lead on all three scorecards — 58-56, 59-55, and 59-55 — as the contest entered the seventh round. Wood, defending his WBA featherweight title, appeared to be heading for a second defeat in three fights.

Then came the moment that would define this rivalry. With seconds remaining in the seventh round, Wood landed a thunderous right hand followed by a devastating four-punch combination that sent Warrington crashing to the canvas as the bell rang. The Leeds man rose immediately but stumbled back to his corner on unsteady legs, resting against the ropes. Referee Steve Gray assessed the situation and waved the fight off.

Warrington was incensed. He has maintained ever since that the stoppage was premature, insisting he would have recovered to fight on in the eighth round. Wood, naturally, disagrees. That fundamental disagreement has fuelled two and a half years of verbal sparring and has made this rematch one of the most eagerly anticipated fights on the British boxing calendar.

Tale of the Tape: Two Veterans at the Crossroads

Both fighters enter the ring at remarkably similar physical dimensions — each standing 5'7" with a 67-inch reach and fighting from an orthodox stance — but their styles and recent form tell contrasting stories.

Wood is the natural power puncher of the two, with a knockout percentage of 53.1% — more than double Warrington's 21.6%. His ability to change the course of a fight with a single shot — as demonstrated against Michael Conlan, Can Xu, and Warrington himself — makes him perpetually dangerous regardless of what the scorecards say. However, his last outing saw him stopped in the ninth round by Anthony Cacace in May 2025, raising legitimate questions about whether his chin and stamina are beginning to erode at 37.

Warrington, by contrast, has always been defined by his relentless work rate and extraordinary engine. The Leeds Warrior's style is built on volume, pressure, and an almost inhuman ability to sustain a punishing pace over twelve rounds. His record of 32 wins from 37 professional bouts speaks to a career of remarkable consistency, even if his knockout ratio suggests he wins fights through accumulation rather than devastation. His last outing — a wide points victory over Asad Asif Khan in April 2025 — snapped a three-fight losing streak and offered evidence that the competitive fire still burns.

Styles Make Fights: Breaking Down the Match-Up

The tactical battle promises to be fascinating. Warrington will almost certainly look to replicate the approach that had him ahead on all three scorecards in the first fight: sustained pressure, high output, and relentless work on the inside. His ability to push Wood back against the ropes and work effectively in close quarters was the defining feature of the first six rounds in Sheffield.

Wood, meanwhile, will be looking to time Warrington's aggressive advances with the kind of precision counter-punching that has defined his best performances. His power advantage is significant — 17 knockouts from 28 wins compared to Warrington's eight from 32 — and he has demonstrated repeatedly that he possesses the ability to turn a fight on its head in a single moment of brilliance.

The key question is whether Warrington has learned from the seventh round in Sheffield. Speaking ahead of the rematch, the Leeds man reflected on his tactical errors in the first fight. "There were moments it felt easy. Pushing him against the ropes, working on the inside," Warrington said. "Maybe I let him go, when I could have stayed working. Times he got me in the clinch. Things I could have done better."

The Undercard: A Night of British Boxing Excellence

The main event is supported by a card that underscores Matchroom's commitment to building the next generation of British boxing talent alongside established names.

The co-main event features Ishmael Davis defending his British and Commonwealth junior middleweight titles against the dangerous Bilal Fawaz, who upset Junaid Bostan in October. Sandy Ryan has the opportunity to become a two-weight world champion when she challenges Karla Ramos Zamora for the vacant WBC women's junior welterweight title. Fan favourite Dave Allen returns against Karim Berredjem, while heavyweight prospect Leo Atang — described by Eddie Hearn as "the next Anthony Joshua" — continues his development against Dan Garber. Former UFC star Molly McCann also features in her third professional boxing bout.

What Is at Stake?

There is no title on the line for the main event, but the stakes could hardly be higher. Both fighters are at the twilight of distinguished careers. Wood has openly acknowledged that even a victory could see him retire, while a defeat for either man at this stage would likely signal the end of the road at the highest level.

For Warrington, this fight represents vindication — the chance to prove that the first fight was stopped too soon and that he remains the better fighter. For Wood, it is an opportunity to silence the doubters who have questioned the legitimacy of his first victory and to demonstrate that his ninth-round stoppage loss to Cacace was an aberration rather than a sign of terminal decline.

The Motorpoint Arena sold out well in advance, and the atmosphere promises to be electric. Nottingham is Wood's city, and the hometown advantage cannot be underestimated in a fight where margins are razor-thin.

Prediction

This is a fight that could go either way, but the evidence suggests a closer contest than the betting odds imply. Warrington's superior conditioning and work rate give him the tools to control the early and middle rounds, but Wood's power means the Leeds man can never afford a moment's lapse in concentration. If Warrington can maintain discipline and avoid the kind of late-round vulnerability that cost him in Sheffield, he has the boxing ability to earn a deserved decision victory. If he cannot, Wood has the power to end proceedings at any moment.

The smart money says this goes the distance, with Warrington's relentless pressure narrowly edging a split decision — but nobody should be surprised if Wood produces another moment of magic under the Nottingham lights.

Wood vs Warrington II is live on DAZN from the Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The main card begins at 7:00 PM GMT, with ring walks for the main event expected at approximately 10:00 PM GMT.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing