Leigh Wood emphatically closed the chapter with a controlled unanimous decision victory over Josh Warrington.

Boxing brilliantly from the opening bell, the Nottingham man rarely allowed the Leeds man to build something lasting.

Wood immediately set the pace, keeping Warrington on the back end of his shots and forcing him to constantly reset. It wasn’t flashy, but it was decisive.

Wood took control early and never let up

Warrington had moments in the second quarter, landing cleanly and appearing to damage Wood’s nose. If there was going to be a turnaround in the fight, this was the window.

Wood shut it down quickly.

He stayed serene, moved his legs and kept the exchange on his terms. By the fourth, Wood was in full control, landing a acute uppercut and still causing Warrington to miss enough to lose momentum.

Warrington finally landed his best series of punches at that point in the fifth round. It reminded him that when he was ready, he could still land.

It was as good as it got.

Wood returned to center in the sixth set and blew the air out of the fight again, jabbing, spinning and forcing Warrington into pursuit.

Warrington needed a knockout but couldn’t find the door

As the middle rounds progressed, it became increasingly clear that Warrington needed something dramatic. Wood calmly continued forward and Warrington was running out of ways to change the rhythm.

At eight o’clock Warrington was chasing and Wood was dictating.

Warrington bowled his strongest spell in the ninth over, but the difference was already wide. When he was unable to maintain this rhythm in the tenth minute, Wood immediately regained control of his thrust and movement.

By the eleventh mark it seemed that the fight would be gone for good. The wood looked fresh. Warrington looked tired and opportunities were becoming fewer.

Warrington finished twelfth, but the result had already been decided. Wood controlled the fight too cleanly and too calmly to ever be in any danger.

Ultimately, the rematch didn’t bring any of the uncertainty that some expected.

Official results

World Boxing News scored the fight 117-111 for Wood. The official judges returned 119-109, 119-110 and 117-111, giving Wood the decision.

WBN was reporting the full results of the Nottingham undercard throughout the evening.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN), boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives and reported in-ring performances. Read the full biography.

Ryan Garcia won his first world title with a decisive unanimous decision over Mario Barrios, defeating the champion within seconds and removing any doubt from that point on.

Garcia made a statement almost immediately. A huge right hand caught Barrios as the champion was looking for his left, sending him to the canvas before he could serene down.

From that point on, Barrios chased a fight that he never found.

Garcia took control early

After the knockdown, Garcia took his time. He stayed serene, picked his shots and landed immaculate lefts and rights in the second and third as Barrios tried to land a punch that was never effective.

The right hand remained a constant problem. Garcia moved in behind him, mixed up edged combinations and forced Barrios to hesitate.

By the fourth, the champion was reacting rather than initiating, and the rounds were ticking away.

One-sided title performance

The middle rounds confirmed this pattern. Garcia varied his attacks upwards and to the body, landing cleanly without overextending.

Barrios searched for open spots, but had little success compared to his challenger’s time and speed.

In the sixth, a body kick took Barrios down again, although referee Thomas Taylor ruled it as a slip. Even without a second official knockdown, the direction of the fight did not change.

As the championship rounds approached, Barrios needed something dramatic. Garcia didn’t give him anything. He maintained discipline, distance, and made sure the scorecards reflected the difference between them.

The final bell ended what had effectively been decided in the first minute.

Following this, Garcia pointed directly at Shakur Stevenson in the crowd and made his intentions clear. A summer clash now seems inevitable.

Official results

World Boxing News scored it 120-107 for Garcia.

The official judges scored it 120-107, 119-108 and 118-109, confirming Ryan Garcia as the novel WBC welterweight champion by unanimous decision.

In addition to the belt, Garcia received a WBC pendant and chain worth $40,000 for the Main Event.

Full results for the Garcia vs. Barrios match are available on WBN Live Hub.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives and reported in-ring performances. Read the full biography.

Emanuel Navarrete unified the WBO and IBF super featherweight titles on Saturday night, forcing the doctor to stop his fight against Eduardo Nunez early in the 11th round at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The ringside doctor determined that Nunez’s injured right eye was too swollen to continue the fight, prompting referee Benjamin Rodriguez to stop the fight.

Navarrete improved to 40-2-1 (33 KO). Nunez dropped to 29-2 (27 KO).

Union removes arguments at 130

There was no discussion afterward. Navarrete won two belts by systematically dismantling the reigning champion until the fight could no longer safely continue.

In a weight class that has seen changes in title holders in recent seasons, the unification is removing piecemeal claims that exceeded 130 pounds.

Navarrete currently controls two of the four main belts, putting the division on his terms. The other two titles are held by Great Britain’s Jazza Dickens (WBA) and O’Shaquie Foster (WBC).

The accumulated damage forced a halt

Nunez pressed forward and focused on bodywork, but the damage around his right eye continued to worsen as the rounds progressed. During the championship stages, the swelling left little room for the doctor to continue fighting.

“It’s a sport. Sometimes it’s strenuous to see your opponent suffer, but I have to keep working,” Navarrete said later.

Sharper action

Navarrete also addressed the contrast to his previous technical decision against Charly Suarez.

“I returned to the heart and courage of being a Mexican warrior,” he said.

Afterwards, the WBO President wrote: “Welcome the King of Mexico. Navarrete unifies the WBO and IBF titles and leaves no doubt that he is the best junior lightweight champion in the world. Must-see TV! Belts matter!”

A rematch with Suarez remains a possibility, and a move for WBC ruler Foster would further consolidate the belts. Both routes now run through Navarrete.

Results below the card

welterweight: Abel Ramos def. Tahmir Smalls via split decision (96-94, 92-98, 93-97)

Super bantamweight: Arturo Cardenas AND Jordan Martinez fought to a draw (96-94, 92-98, 95-95) – WBC title in continental America

Superlight: Emiliano Vargas def. Agustin Quintana via TKO (round 9) – NABF and WBO Latin American titles

Superlight: Oscar Alvarez Guerrero def. Trini Ochoa via unanimous decision (78-74 x 2, 79-73)

Super welterweight: Hector Beltran def. Cesar Diaz via unanimous decision (3x 60-54)

bantam weight: Filip Vela def. Brayan Ramos Armenta via unanimous decision (3x 60-54)

welterweight: Rahman Muhammad def. Mitchell McFadden via TKO, round 2

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives and reported in-ring performances. Read the full biography.