Leigh Wood promises 'career-best' performance in Commonwealth title defence against Ryan Doyle
"He is established at this level but I want to go well past this level and on Friday I'm going to prove it. I'm going to box out of my skin."
By Peter Gilbert
Last Updated: 09/05/19 5:36pm
Leigh Wood has vowed to put on a "career-best" performance against Ryan Doyle at the Nottingham Arena on Friday night, live on Sky Sports.
Wood (21-1, 11 KOs) will make the first defence of his Commonwealth featherweight title against former holder Doyle after dropping Abraham Osei Bonsu twice in two rounds to win the vacant strap in March.
"I know I'm in a hard fight but no one has seen the best of me, I've not even been tested at featherweight," said the 30-year-old, whose sole defeat was to Gavin McDonnell at super-bantamweight in 2014.
"I've been getting a bit of stick as people are saying 'he's not even done 12 rounds yet' which I haven't but there's a reason why I haven't done 12 rounds yet because I punch like ****."
Wood will be fighting on his home turf but "Leigh-thal" insists he will not let the pressure of headlining the card overwhelm him.
"I'm not a young kid, I've got experience in the game," added Wood. "I am coming to please the crowd but I'm going to be sensible and smart, an educated performance and it's going to be a career-best performance.
"He is established at this level but I want to go well past this level and on Friday I'm going to prove it. I'm going to box out of my skin."
Doyle knocked out Reece Bellotti in five rounds to win the title in June last year but lost it in his first defence four months later when he was stopped by Jordan Gill in seven rounds.
"I feel like I belong at this level now. I've shown it, I've had some great nights obviously beating Reece Bellotti and I've had the worse night of my life, fighting Jordan Gill," said Doyle.
"I believe I belong at this level and it's where I want to stay."
Watch Jordan Gill against Enrique Tinoco, with Leigh Wood also defending his Commonwealth title against Ryan Doyle on JD NXTGEN bill, from 7pm on Friday night, live on Sky Sports Action.
