Error code: %{errorCode}
City Ground of Dreams: Five potential foes for Leigh Wood's Nottingham Forest hometown super-fight
Leigh Wood ends his lengthy exodus from the ring this weekend as he returns in a super featherweight blockbuster with Anthony Cacace in Nottingham, live on DAZN.
The former WBA featherweight champion has not fought since he defeated Josh Warrington in October 2023 and subsequently vacated his title to step up a division.
A number of injury issues have hampered his pursuits however and kept him inactive, leaving questions over what fighter will return to the canvas when he steps out.
Defeat the red-hot Cacace however, and the Nottingham Forest boyhood fan could move one step closer to his long-awaited dream headline night at the City Ground.
With his beloved football team pushing for UEFA Champions League football on the pitch, DAZN News profiles five fighters who could help make a historic bout for Wood.
Mauricio Lara
They say great things come in threes - and boxing loves a trilogy bout as much as anything else. By that yardstick, there's one very obvious contender for Wood to face.
The Mexican star has already danced with him twice in the ring, both times in featherweight title fights. The spoils have been shared thus far, with one victory to each man.
Lara may not have built a gripping resume since, but he has moved up to super featherweight too - and the chance for either to take a definitive win would be addictive stuff.
Josh Warrington
Arguably another fight that could be made irrespective of the result with Cacace, a second bout with The Leeds Warrior would arguably be the biggest draw Wood could have.
Warrington is the last foe both men faced, and is back to winning ways himself after outpointing Asad Asif Khan in Sheffield last month, having seemingly retired in September.
The veteran has proven himself as a ticket-shifter across the North of England, and was originally mooted for a Wood rematch at the City Ground after their first bout in 2023.
Emanuel Navarrete
If Lara and Warrington bring history to the table, then the former's countryman arguably represents the largest test Wood could have, in one of the division's best operators.
A three-weight world champion, Navarrete has held the WBO junior lightweight crown since 2023 and is considered a leading super-featherweight representing a hot ticket.
Wood would need to defeat Cacace, who likely has his own eyes on Navarette as a potential foe - but if he does so, it could set up a career-high payday and crowd for both.
Michael Conlan
Another man with unfinished business against Wood, the London 2012 bronze-medal winner played out a modern classic in his last encounter over three years ago in 2022.
Conlan was unbeaten when he won the WBA interim featherweight crown and challenged Wood for the full honours, but was famously stopped in the last half of the final round.
A loss to Luis Alberto Lopez a year later seemingly ended his prospects of taking a top-level title in the sport, but he remains popular and would be keen to settle an old score.
Joe Cordina
Finally, a former super-featherweight star who has left the division, Cordina has been forced to kick his heels since he stepped up, having been due to face Shakur Stevenson.
The star, famously stopped by Cacace in an upset loss last May, had been expected to challenge for honours at lightweight after two reigns as IBF champion a class below.
But with no bout in the pipeline, the Welsh-Maltese star could be persuaded to step back down a level to his familiar weight and provide Wood with another blockbuster test.
Sign up to a DAZN subscription to watch the very best boxing
DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more.
An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month.
It is not just about fight night, a DAZN membership also includes access to documentaries and features, weekly magazine shows, live fight watchalongs, press conferences, weight-ins, open workouts, exclusive interviews and access to training camps, and podcasts and vodcasts.
Sign up right now to watch the biggest stars and best fights.
For pricing in your country, more information and to sign up click here.
