Their first fight in Sheffield had Warrington comfortably in control until a decisive Wood punch in the seventh round ended the contest.
The rivalry had only deepened since, reflected in the charged atmosphere of the sell-out 8,000-capacity arena as the football-loving fighters entered to songs of their respective clubs.
Warrington walked out to the Leeds United anthem Marching On Together, which segued into his trademark Kaiser Chiefs’ I Predict a Riot, but the travelling noise was outdone by the home crowd when Wood – wearing sunglasses and soaking in the moment – emerged to Nottingham Forest’s Mull of Kintyre.
Wood edged a scrappy first round. Warrington responded with a sharp right hook and straight right in the second.
The home crowd sang “Leigh Wood is one of our own”, as their man settled into a southpaw rhythm, slowing the pace and picking shots from range.
He landed a crisp combination in the fifth before Warrington drew blood from Wood’s nose with a single right.
Both men had lost to Anthony Cacace since their first fight, raising the stakes for what felt like a last roll of the dice. Yet it was Warrington who looked the more faded former champion.
“Give them something to sing about,” urged his father and trainer Sean O’Hagan, predicting Wood would tire.
Instead, the bout drifted. Wood, hands low, invited pressure but Warrington could not capitalise. The lull in action seeped into the stands.
By the championship rounds, Warrington appeared to need a knockdown, but there was little sign of one coming.
By the final bell, the tension had evaporated and the outcome felt inevitable.
