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Leigh Wood: Nottingham's world champion stepping out from under Carl Froch’s shadow

Leigh Wood

Leigh Wood defends his WBA (Regular) featherweight title against Michael Conlan on March 12. If he’s successful, a fight at his beloved City Ground is to come…

Leigh Wood's story is a curious one.
After winning his opening eleven professional fights, his first 12-round bout came against the respected Gavin McDonnell for the vacant British super bantamweight title.
McDonnell twice challenged for a world title during his own career, so this was a significant step up for Wood.
The Nottingham-born fighter gave a good account of himself before ultimately getting stopped in the sixth.
The true ceiling of Wood has often been up for debate. His credentials were put under further scrutiny when he was narrowly beaten on points in a European title bout against Jazza Dickens in 2020.
With two losses on his record and his career at a crossroads, it looked like Wood would spend the rest of his career operating at British/European level without cracking it at the big time.

Though after stopping Reece Mould for the British title in February 2021, Wood made the leap as he challenged Xu Can for his WBA (Regular) featherweight title in Eddie Hearn's back garden at Fight Camp last summer.

Understandably, given their respective resumes, Wood was a big underdog going in.

He was now working with Ben Davison, who has been lauded for his work with Tyson Fury and Josh Taylor. This move played a major role as Wood put in a punch perfect masterclass as he dethroned the Chinese world champion.

Wood was able to outbox Can - despite him being considered the challenger's superior - before he was stopped in the final round.
Hearn labelled this as a "life-changing" moment and that was clear on the night as Wood lapped up the adulation that came his way.
After spending ten years on the periphery, Wood's tireless work paid off as he became a world champion at the first time of asking.
Wood's rise should be taken as an example to other boxers that they should take chances that come their way. The fight against Can was his moment to shine.
If he did not take it, the 33-year-old would have likely never got another opportunity to win a world title.
Now 'Leigh-thal' is a recognised world level fighter, fights at the peak of the featherweight division are to come.
The first of which comes against Irishman Michael Conlan in March at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena. This is a well-deserved homecoming fight for the champion. But he will have to be on his A-game to defeat Conlan.
'Mick' is recognised as one of the greatest amateurs in the history of Irish boxing. He won gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 and he followed that up with another gold at the World Championships in Doha in 2015.
Conlan also earned himself a bronze medal as a flyweight at the 2012 Olympics in London.
He is three years younger than Wood and is unbeaten as a professional from his 16 bouts.
The former WBO and WBA intercontinental featherweight champion has been on big cards along the way as he fought at Madison Square Garden in his debut and later at Manchester Arena as he beat Jason Cunningham by unanimous decision in 2018.
Conlan defeated fellow Irishman TJ Doheny for the vacant WBA interim featherweight title last year, which set him up for his showdown with Wood next month.
This bout has split fight fans right down the middle as you can argue both fighter's cases to come out on top.
Wood carries a lot of power as a large featherweight, while Conlan's boxing IQ from the amateur ranks makes him a threat for anyone in this division.
The champion has a mighty task on his hands to keep a hold of his belt, but going off his recent showings, he is more than capable of silencing his mouthy challenger.
These are the type of fight nights Wood has been striving for since he was on the undercard for Carl Froch vs Yusaf Mack at the Nottingham Arena in 2012.
For a long time, Froch has been out on his own as a figurehead of boxing in Nottingham.
From his clashes with George Groves to Mikkel Kessler, 'the Cobra' always delivered exhilarating fights.
Froch was renowned for his solid chin and heavy hands. He was admired by his peers and fans as he became a multiple-time world champion under Robert McCracken's tutelage.
He hung up his gloves in 2014. Eight years later, he will be delighted to see that Wood is finally stepping out from under his shadow.
Wood may not fight in front of 80,000 at Wembley as Froch did. Yet he has already surpassed expectations and there are bigger nights to come if he gets past Conlan.

Also in March, Josh Warrington battles his old foe, Kiko Martinez, for the IBF featherweight title in Leeds.

The respective victors look set to do battle later this year with the IBF and WBA world titles on the line.

Wood has made it no secret that he wants to fight at Nottingham Forest's City Ground before he retires.

He would one-up Froch if he does, as Wood would be the first boxer to headline at the football stadium.
All of this is potentially to come for Wood, who is primed to enjoy a glittering end to his boxing career…

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