SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT contender Liam Wilson has told Boxing News that a fight against Britain’s Leigh Wood is of great interest to him.
Wilson, 13-2 (7 KOs), is in Glendale, Arizona this week for another stern test of his world title credentials when he faces Mexican Oscar Valdez on Saturday (March 29). Their fight takes place at the same venue – the Desert Diamond Arena – where Wilson and Emanuel Navarette put on a Fight of the Year contender 11 months ago.
Wilson stepped in for original opponent Oscar Valdez last February when the former two-weight belt holder pulled out due to injury. The Australian gave Navarrete hell dropping “Vaquero” in the fourth round and on the verge of a win which would have given him the WBO super-featherweight belt. However, Navarrete recovered and by the ninth-round their shootout was over after the Mexican secured a knockdown of his own before unleashing a barrage of shots which Wilson failed to survive from.
Victory for Wilson on Saturday could eventually see him becoming the new owner of the WBO strap at 130lbs. He and Valdez will contest the Interim version with the sanctioning body declaring that the winner could be elevated to “Full Champion status” should Navarrete win their vacant lightweight belt and wish to retain it after facing Denys Berinchyk on May 18 in San Diego.
Andi Purewal from Boxing News quizzed Wilson about his future plans should he be successful against Valdez and asked if a trip this side of the pond to face IBF titlist Joe Cordina or new member of the 130 club Leigh Wood would interest him.
“One hundred per cent,” an enthusiastic Wilson replied.
“Me and my trainer were talking about Leigh Wood the other day. We seen he was moving up in weight. That’d be a cracking fight. That fight really does interest me. If, when I get past Valdez, if we can make that fight happen, I’d love to make a big, big fight with me and Leigh Wood. That’d be awesome. Stylistically that’d be a barnburner.”
It would be difficult to argue against Wilson’s prediction. In the space of two years Wood has been involved in three thrillers against Michael Conlan, Mauricio Lara, and Josh Warrington. The latter, which resulted in a comeback win for Wood in the seventh round, looked as though it was heading for a rematch but Warrington recently told BN he is exploring other options having accused Wood of taking too long to come to a decision.