LEIGH WOOD scored a sensational comeback knockout of Josh Warrington to end the Leeds legend’s world title hat-trick dreams.
The 35-year-old Nottingham featherweight made a nightmare start to his defence of the WBA 9st crown and looked doomed to defeat.
ReutersLeigh Wood celebrates an unlikely victory[/caption]
Josh Warrington is dropped in the seventh by WoodRichard Pelham / The Sun
But in the seventh round, when Warrington took his eye off the ball with only seconds of the stanza remaining, he landed a blistering right hand and left hook that sent two-time IBF champ Warrington plumetting to the canvas and toward retirement.
Warrington leaped to his feet but staggered across the ring and was saved from his own bravery by referee Michael Alexander.
The Sheffield arena, bang in the middle of their respective homes, was split down the middle.
Leeds United fans made a deafening din on one side of the ice rink while the Forest faithful did their best to bellow above them.
Warrington, 32, tore straight into his rival, slashing at his body with hooks and whipping out a lead left that grazed his face.
Wood, kept his arrows long and straight and he complained about Warrington’s rabbit punches from the off.
Both men thew Mexican-style body punches in the second but Wood, boxing out of the southpaw stance, then tagged Warrington a couple of times to the head.
Wood looked buzzed at the start of the third when Warrington backed him up against the ropes and unloaded a volley.
Later in the same session a left hook from the Yorkshireman landed too and stunned Wood.
Warrington’s pre-fight plan to bully the permed Gedling puncher was working as he started totting up the early rounds.
Wood livened up for the fourth but Warrington kept slipping past his pawing jab and tagging him with hooks.
Right on the bell a cut opened up and squirted blood out of Wood’s right eye, his corner would be stemming the flow of claret as the Leeds fans took over the venue with their chanting.
Wood’s nightmare start got worse in the fifth when Warrington poked out three jabs that teed up a booming right hand.
The blow rattled Wood’s brain and made his legs stiffen, he showed great courage to stay on his feet as his right cheekbone turned a nasty shade of purple.
Warrington lost a point for rabbit punching in the seventh then right at the end he was smashed senseless.
Wood walked him on to a right hook, then another, and then a left hand another hook, five punches landed flush and unanswered before he collapsed.
He seemed spark out but leaped to his feet but he was saved from his own bravery as he was staggering and stunned.
After the fight, Wood reflected: “It’s gotta be up there. It was a bit like my career: started off a bit rough, but we got there.
Wood shows tremendous courage to stay in the fight against WarringtonRichard Pelham / The Sun
Celebrating his knockout, few could believe Wood was the victorRichard Pelham / The Sun
Forest fan Wood retained the WBA featherweight world titleRichard Pelham / The Sun
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“Josh is a great fighter. Thank you to all the fans for turning out as well.
“All I can say is, I’ve got a game-changer [of a right hand].”
While Warrington admitted: “I just switched off for a split second. He hit me with a good shot.”