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Welcome to Diario AS USA’s live coverage of the WBA featherweight world title bout between Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington from Sheffield, England.

That is the first defense by Wood of his second reign as WBA champion. The primary one ended by a TKO to Mexican Mauricio Lara in February. Wood regained the title within the rematch, getting a unanimous decision in a fight that saw Lara down within the second and fourth rounds.

Amid criticism that he’s attempting to swerve hammer-fisted Uzbek challenger Otabek Kholmatov (11-0, 10 KOs), Wood has taken what many see as a safer option in facing his countryman, former IBF champion Josh Warrington.

Last outing, Warrington lost a contentious majority decision to a different Mexican, Luis Alberto Lopez in his first defense of the IBF title that Warrington had taken off Kiko Martinez just eight months earlier.

Warrington doesn’t have the fearsome punch power of Kholmatov, but is a wily veteran who can swarm and overwhelm the less experienced Wood. Not afraid to get in close and work the body, Warrington could make the night very uncomfortable for Wood, who prefers to jab at distance.

That is a pick-em matchup, with many of the boxing world divided 50-50 on who they think will do the business.

On the undercard tonight is a tasty matchup between Terri Harper and Cecilia Braekhus, because the two clash for Harper’s WBA super-welterweight title in addition to the vacant WBO belt.

Originally slated for the undercard of Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron in Dublin back in May, Braekhus needed to withdraw attributable to illness on the morning of the fight.

The British champion Harper is 14-1-1 with 6 KOs and has taken and defended her title, winning three fights in a row after losing to Alycia Baumgardner back in 2021. The one other blemish on her record is a draw with Natasha Jonas in 2020.

Colombian-born Norwegian Cecilia Braekhus 37-2 with 9 KOs, with each of her losses coming by decision to Jessica McCaskill. Currently rated as the world pound-for-pound primary, Braekhus is a heavy hitter and has an exceptional engine. Although the challenger tonight, she will be able to definitely cause serious discomfort for Harper.

The predominant card is about to get underway at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT.