Leigh Wood says he feels no pressure as underdog against Can Xu

“As each fighter says, I’m in an excellent place,” Leigh Wooden smiles, trotting out the obligatory combat week sentiments. 

However then he stops to specify why he’s feeling assured forward of this weekend’s shot at Can Xu, The Ring’s No. 3 featherweight.

“Clearly I’ve had extra time with [new trainer] Ben Davison than I did for my British title combat [against Reece Mould]. I solely had about six or seven weeks with him, so it was all new and I needed to belief what Ben was saying and making me do and now I’ve received much more belief in him after the final efficiency. I’ve spent much more time with him earlier than this combat and I’m very assured within the sport plan and the issues we’ve been engaged on to get the win.”

Wooden, 24-2, defeated Mould by way of ninth-round stoppage again in February with a formidable efficiency that noticed him seize the British title.

On the identical evening, Josh Warrington misplaced to Mauricio Lara when he had hoped Can Xu was going to be within the reverse nook relatively than the unheralded Mexican.

That Can Xu is world class and the bookmaker’s favourite means Wooden is within the underdog function, however he stated that doesn’t take the stress off – as a result of he doesn’t really feel the stress in any respect. 

The Monster is coming 😈 @XuCan_Monster #FightCamp #XuCanWood pic.twitter.com/81bbjdnc0Y

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) July 26, 2021

“I solely put stress on myself,” he explains, “the identical as a British title combat, Commonwealth title combat [when he beat Abraham Bonsu], I take it for what it’s. I don’t even take into consideration what it’s for

, that’s at the start. Secondly, I take away how a lot I’m getting paid as a result of that’s irrelevant to me as properly, and I take away the standing of what it’s for and I simply concentrate on me and him, so all I’m centered on is my opponent. There’s no stress. There are expectations however there’s no stress. I do know what I have to do and I’m going to get the job achieved.”

The Nottingham man is 32 and coming into simply his second combat with Davison however he stated their relationship is blossoming the extra time they spend collectively. 

“He cares about his fighters,” Wooden continues. “He’s not doing it for the cash, he’s doing it to assist us fulfil our potential. For instance, the quantity of effort and time for the British title combat and the quantity he received paid wasn’t nice, however he does it as a result of he desires his fighters to realize their potential and that’s the most effective factor about Ben. “He’s real and he is aware of his boxing as properly.”

Between the 2 of them they’ve been drawing up the technique for what they hope is a successful system. However Wooden admits Xu is “an ideal fighter.”

“He’s nice at what he does,” Leigh provides. “When you let him get momentum and do what he’s good at you’re in for a really laborious evening, so there are issues I have to do to remove that he’s good at and it’s going to be an excellent conflict of kinds.”
Is Wooden on the lookout for an entertaining combat? When the aforementioned Warrington-Xu contest was on faucet, followers salivated on the potential of an all-action warfare.

“When you have a look at a historical past of fighters with a excessive output, like a quantity puncher, towards an enormous puncher like I think about myself to be – I’ve received six titles all by knockout – what you usually get is the quantity puncher [Xu] throwing quite a lot of punches however their arms aren’t by the facet of their head and an enormous puncher can time a shot, so it ought to make for an thrilling combat and it’s a 50/50 decide ‘em,” Wooden continues.

𝙻𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑-𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚕 🏹@itsLeighWood will get his shot at World honours subsequent Saturday!#FightCamp #XuCanWood pic.twitter.com/Ysy0RnzN3z

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) July 23, 2021

“Is the large puncher going to land and shut the present or is the quantity puncher going to maintain throwing? Nevertheless it’s going to be a really good and educated sport plan on my own the place I take away his finest asset with out him understanding what I’m doing.”

Wooden got here near stealing the present towards Warrington’s stablemate Mould earlier within the 12 months and positively had individuals sit up and take discover. It’s what has received him the Xu combat.

“Reece is an effective fighter and I don’t assume he wanted to win that [British] title to show he was at that degree,” says Wooden. “I believe he was already European degree, he’s an excellent fighter however I put my belief and religion into Ben, adopted the sport plan and, like Ben stated, I punch very laborious and there aren’t many youngsters at my weight who can produce that energy and that’s an ideal asset to have within the financial institution.”

Wooden’s inventory has by no means been larger and he credit his two defeats with serving to him enhance as a fighter. In 2014 he was stopped in six by future European champion Gavin McDonnell and in 2020 he misplaced a majority determination to future world title challenger Jazza Dickens.

“You study a lot from a loss,” Wooden explains. “Not solely do you go away and get higher, for those who’ve received the proper perspective, you go away and get higher and study as you go and it’s all about expertise. When you’ve received the perspective while you get beat and also you beat your self up, you’re going to be 1,000,000 miles away from the place you have to get to. Nevertheless it’s all about choosing issues up. The McDonnell combat, I shouldn’t have even been at that weight however I discovered find out how to make weight and concerning the tempo of a combat and I discovered it the toughest method. And while you study the laborious method, you have a tendency to not overlook it. The Dickens combat, he was the primary southpaw I boxed a professional and an excellent one at that. I felt I couldn’t land clear, however I didn’t go into that combat with a sport plan and that’s what I’ve discovered. You could have a plan and you have to know immediately what you’re going to do to remove what your opponent’s finest at.”

The stage is about. Xu-Wooden is a part of an enormous evening at what’s typically been referred to as Matchroom Sq. Backyard as Battle Camp kicks off its three-week summer time stint in Essex on a invoice headlined by Conor Benn-Adrian Granados in entrance of a number of hundred followers.
“I’m anticipating an ideal evening,” says Wooden.

“Clearly it’s Matchroom’s first combat with out Sky, stay on DAZN, so I’m certain they’ll make it a spectacle. I don’t assume I’ve boxed outdoor earlier than in order that’s new but it surely’s good to have a crowd again. I waited 20 years to win the British title and seemed round an empty room. I couldn’t go on vacation, I couldn’t go to any pubs and bars so it’s going to be totally different to have just a few individuals there.”