LEIGH WOOD insists he doesn’t care who he faces subsequent so long as it’s at Nottingham Forest’s Metropolis Floor after Eddie Hearn described the Josh Warrington rematch as the largest combat on the market for him.
Wooden accomplished a sensational smash-and-grab victory over Warrington on the Sheffield Area on Saturday evening when he stopped the Leeds Warrior within the seventh spherical whereas trailing on all three playing cards.
Nonetheless the conclusion got here in controversial circumstances as Warrington believed referee Michael Alexander waved it off too early, with out giving him the ample time to show his restoration.
Now the eye has turned to what could be subsequent for Wooden, who has been promised a 2024 combat on the house of his beloved Nottingham Forest.
The 35-year-old says he will certainly be transferring as much as super-featherweight, which has opened the door to an all-British conflict with Joe Cordina. Names like Emanuel Navarrete have additionally been talked about for the outside conflict however Wooden is adamant he doesn’t thoughts who’s within the reverse nook.
“I feel I’ve acquired numerous choices,” Wooden stated. “Eddie stated it was an excellent combat however am I ever in a uninteresting combat, ever? I’m not.
“On that foundation we’ve acquired the decide of the litter. I might give Josh one other shot, I’m open to that but it surely wouldn’t be at featherweight, I can’t make it safely anymore. There are different individuals on the weight above too. I’ve acquired a number of choices so we are going to see what occurs.
“The query of who isn’t actually the issue – it’s the place and when. We wish to do the Metropolis Floor.
“That’s my finest win, Josh is a three-time world champion with large scalps on his report. I’m the one Brit to beat him. He’s an excellent fighter and undoubtedly my finest scalp. If we do it once more we do it once more, if not I’d like a brand new problem.”
Hearn, who sat to Wooden’s proper as he spoke, admitted that the rematch with Warrington could be the one one large enough to fill the stadium, particularly given the controversy surrounding the stoppage.
Hearn stated: “We stated to Leigh Wooden that the Metropolis Floor could be subsequent if he was to be victorious. I really feel prefer it ought to have occurred sooner. It’s a giant place and I feel there are huge fights on the market. I’m certain Josh appears like he ought to get one other shot but it surely wouldn’t be at 126lbs.
“Whenever you’ve acquired two units of followers – from Leeds and Nottingham – and so they noticed an exciting combat then that’s an possibility. There’s additionally Joe Cordina however would he wish to go to somebody’s yard when he’s the champion? If the deal was proper fairly presumably.
“However the focus now’s to ensure the subsequent combat, whoever it’s in opposition to, is on the Metropolis Floor. Whenever you’ve acquired two large units of followers it’s potential. As we’ve seen with Josh, once you’ve acquired stadium fights you don’t simply make Josh in opposition to somebody, you make it in opposition to Lee Selby for the world title or Mauricio Lara in a giant rematch.
“It would take a giant combat for Leigh Wooden on the Metropolis Floor so we are going to see what the demand is and what all people thinks. I wish to watch the combat again. I feel if Josh has turned spherical then they’d have 100 per cent let the combat stick with it. If the ref did name it off at eight, I feel it was too early as a result of he ought to have given him the chance to show round.
“However the ref stated to me he wouldn’t flip spherical so should you wouldn’t flip spherical then I can’t let it proceed. However we all know the numbers on DAZN have been improbable and the gang have been improbable – so why not.
“For those who have a look at frontrunners for the dimensions of fights on the Metropolis Floor I feel the rematch might be the largest one.”
Warrington, in the meantime, felt ‘laborious accomplished by’ after the stoppage and confirmed he’s glad to maneuver as much as super-featherweight to safe the rematch.
He stated: “This was most likely my final combat at feather, I can nonetheless make it comfortably however I’ve been right here a very long time. My higher performances in sparring and stuff have come after I’ve been a bit heavier so I’d be trying to step up even when I used to be victorious in opposition to Leigh.
“I really feel a bit laborious accomplished by tonight – it was the top of the spherical, I get to my ft, there’s a smile on my face, I turned spherical at eight and the subsequent minute it’s waved off.
“I used to be cruising the combat, forward on the scorecards however switched off for a cut up second. It’s boxing. I turned spherical at eight – I believed I’d be no less than given the chance to sit down down. I do know the referee is there for my very own security however I’m deep into my profession. I’ve by no means actually been harm and that is my seventh world title combat. I ought to have been given the chance to hold on. Possibly I acquired up too shortly however my senses have been with me.”
