Garth Wood (born 13 June 1978) is an Australian professional boxer and former professional rugby league footballer. Wood won the 2009/2010 Contender Boxing Series. He played rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Balmain Tigers in the NRL.
Background Wood was born in Sydney.
Garth is the brother of Balmain Tigers, Sydney Roosters and Warrington Wolves utility Nathan Wood and the son of Newtown, Norths and Souths halfback Barry Wood.
Rugby league career A Souths junior Wood seemed destined to play the game as his father, Barry Wood, was a halfback for the club and his older brother, Nathan, also a Souths junior, signed and played for fellow foundation club Balmain Tigers in 1993. Wood debuted for Souths at 17 years of age, but his rugby league career was fledging as he only played nine games for Souths and Balmain between 1997 and 1999, before four gap where he rejoined the Rabbitohs in 2004 and appeared in a further 16 games. After this Wood decided to make a career out of boxing like fellow league converts Anthony Mundine and Solomon Haumono. Wood describes the area he grew up in was a factor in his career path "When I was growing up, it was a tough area: you either played footy or fought".Petersham fighter Garth Wood is a real contender
Boxing career In only his eighth professional bout, on 11 January 2010 Wood became the first winner of The Contender Australia by defeating Kariz Kariuki by a split points decision after seven rounds. The win earned him $25,000 and a fight with "The Man" Mundine. Wood overcame Victor Oganov in the five round semi-final by a majority decision and stopped Israel Kani in the second round of the quarter-finals to reach the final against Kariuki. Throughout the filming of The Contender Australia Wood was rated a Super Middleweight along with all the other contestants.The Contender Australia Final Preview
On 8 December 2010 Wood defeated Anthony Mundine by knockout at the Acer Arena.Choc topped: Mundine KO'd by hard Wood Wood was aggressive from round 1, attempting to rough up and lure Mundine into a brawl, in the fifth round it was a left hook to the jaw that dropped Mundine while he was bending his body sideways and considerably low. Wood had to drop weight to Middleweight for the fight after the Mundine camp offered $100,000 as a sweetener. They originally wanted Wood to drop to a Junior Middleweight, but Wood refused.Wood to fight light against Mundine Wood lost to Mundine in a rematch via a points decision.
Television career Wood is a co-anchor of Fight Call Out on Fox Sports
Professional Boxing Record
Date Result Opponent Method Round Time Location Notes19 February 2014Loss Daniel Geale RTD 6 3:00 Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park, NSW, Australia16 May 2013Win Virgil Kalakoda TKO 2 1:07 The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, VIC, Australia15 February 2013Win Togasilimai Letoa TKO 9 1:12 All Sorts Arena, Alexandria, NSW, Australia12 February 2012Loss Sam Soliman Decision (Unanimous) 12 Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush, NSW, Australia 13 April 2011Loss Anthony Mundine Decision (Unanimous) 10 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD, Australia8 December 2010Win Anthony Mundine KO 5 0:58 Acer Arena, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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