Golden Hour: Wood and Warrington swansong a touching farewell for local heroes

The noise still echoes around Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena, lusty cheers from somewhere in the rafters that roar down to the ring below.

Leigh Wood has just outclassed Josh Warrington in their long-awaited rematch, to settle the British pair's grudge rivalry once and for all.

Both men are still on the canvas, the former with his daughter in his arms, all exhausted smiles, with the latter on the ropes, cheeks swollen.

It is strange. Normally, when one fighter loses a bout - especially against a professed bitter rival - there is little desire to stick around afterwards.

But Wood and Warrington are cut from more similar cloth than the pair have previously been keen to admit, perhaps two sides of the same coin.

Their success, first as domestic favourites before their ascension to world champion status, has always been rooted in local pride and wry humility.

'Leigh-thal' and 'The Leeds Warrior' are two men who wear the hearts of their cities, their counties, their tribes proudly on their sleeves alongside their own.

For a generation, they have delivered the big nights in their hometowns, inviting stars home and away to face them down - and mostly emerged victorious too.

The perfect dance partner for the final chapter

Yet all good things come to an end. This bout, three years after Wood landed a come-from-behind knockout over Warrington, was arguably past its prime on paper.

Each star has flirted with retirement since then, both toppled by Anto Cacace and only transactionally successful one division above at super-featherweight.

Much of the build-up before this fight week on Wood's home turf had been gilded with barbs and jibes against each other, aging gunslingers arguing in the saloon.

It takes a lot of respect to share the ring with another man though - and in each other, these two stars perhaps found the perfect dance partner to end their careers.

Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Neither man would be taken in the immediate aftermath on their future. Wood suggested it could be the end of the line. Warrington said he would consider his steps.

As they embraced however, and both factions of a partisan crowd filled with their devout fans saluted them at the final bell, there was an air of finality to proceedings.

Wood said the pair would break bread together when they got back to the locker rooms, share a drink and reflect on what has been two terrific careers at the summit.

If this is the end, then those final bell scenes made for a fitting golden hour swansong - and a touching tribute to two local heroes who have brought so much joy to bear.

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