Michael Conlan is insistent that Leigh Wood doesn’t want a rematch. The featherweight pair delivered an instant classic back in March when Wood survived a knockdown and schooling to halt Conlan in the fight’s final round. The dramatic conclusion followed an incredible battle, and it was thought that an immediate sequel would be the best move for both fighters.
Instead, it appears that the Nottingham man is hopeful of securing a contest with Leo Santa Cruz while Conlan returns on August 6 when he faces Miguel Marriaga in Belfast. Despite both fighters chasing alternative contests in the meantime, a rematch holds a lot of appeal for fight fans. Conlan understands why his most recent foe is looking in another direction.
“Does he have the confidence? He knows he was beaten for the majority of that fight and got dropped heavy by someone who is not known as a puncher,” said Conlan when speaking to Irish Boxing.
“I’m not known as a puncher, I know that, and I bounced his head off the canvas.”
“He says he wants to have bigger fights than the rematch, but the rematch is the biggest fight. I know he would be willing to make less money to fight a Josh Warrington or other unification fights. That’s what was said in the immediate aftermath which is dumb in my opinion.”
Conlan added, “We wanted the rematch, I’ve been told Eddie Hearn, Matchroom and DAZN have reached out to Top Rank about doing it in the winter. All being well with Leigh Wood will still be champion then, hopefully so, but I can understand why he wouldn’t want the rematch.”