Leigh Wood Dominates Warrington in Rematch, Sandy Ryan Captures WBC Title

British boxer Leigh Wood stylishly showed who the better fighter is in his rivalry with Josh Warrington. In the main event at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, Wood controlled the bout for twelve rounds, winning by unanimous decision. The judges scored it 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111 for the hometown fighter. Warrington, known as the "Leeds Warrior," seemed frustrated and without a plan to break his opponent's dominance. Wood effectively kept his distance and landed cleaner shots. The Wood-Warrington rivalry dates back to October 2023, when in Sheffield, Wood, trailing on the scorecards, knocked out his opponent in the seventh round to defend his WBA featherweight title. He soon vacated that title, moving up to super featherweight. Meanwhile, in the history of women's boxing, fights for the titles of major federations, such as the WBC founded in 1963, gained mass significance after 2010, opening new career paths for female athletes. One such athlete is Sandy Ryan, who wrote her name into British boxing history on the same card. By defeating the relentless Mexican Karla Ramos Zamora on points, Ryan captured the vacant WBC belt in the junior welterweight division. For the 32-year-old fighter from Derby, this means the status of a two-weight world champion, as she previously held the WBO welterweight title. The fight was demanding and fast-paced. Zamora brought immense activity, making some rounds difficult to score, but Ryan's cleaner counter-punches proved decisive for the verdict.„The 32-year-old was below her best in a high-tempo contest against the awkward Mexican at the Motorpoint Arena.” — BBC This victory holds immense psychological significance for Ryan, who had been going through a difficult period in the last two years. In 2024-2025, she lost twice to American Mikaela Mayer, losing her WBO title and failing to regain it in the rematch. After those defeats, she admitted she had considered retiring. Her return to form began with a win over Jade Grierson, and the fight with Zamora was only her third bout in the new weight class. Previously, in the junior welterweight division, she had beaten Anahi Ester Sanchez and lost to Erica Farias. The card, featuring both these important bouts, was broadcast on the streaming platform DAZN, with preliminary fights starting at 7:00 PM local time, and the main event stars entering the ring around 10:00 PM.Chronology of events at the Nottingham card: February 21, 7:00 PM — Start of preliminary fights; February 21, ~9:00 PM — WBC Championship fight; February 21, ~10:00 PM — Main event of the evening The results of this card confirm Leigh Wood's high form and his position in British boxing, while simultaneously opening a new, successful chapter in Sandy Ryan's career. For Warrington, the defeat means another professional disappointment, while for Ryan, capturing the WBC belt serves as proof of character and the ability to return to the top after a deep crisis. Both bouts attracted the attention of national fans, highlighting Nottingham's importance as a venue for major boxing events.