
Warrington's Coach Would Like Leo Santa Cruz Next, Then Leigh Wood
Newly crowned IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington suffered a broken jaw in his stunning stoppage win over Kiko Martinez on Saturday night in Leeds.
Kiko Martinez: record, next fight and profile →

Newly crowned IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington suffered a broken jaw in his stunning stoppage win over Kiko Martinez on Saturday night in Leeds.

Considering he gave the IBF featherweight title away 14 months ago. Josh Warrington looked a mighty relieved man to get his hands back on it last night as he stopped Kiko Martinez in seven rounds at the First Direct Arena, in Leeds.

Warrington, Martinez Rematch Scorecard Live - Spanish two-weight world champion Kiko Martinez puts his newly acquired IBF featherweight belt on the line against old foe Josh Warrington – who actually beat the champion by way of a twelve round majority decision back in 2017.

By Cliff Rold - Just shy of five years ago, they collided and their careers went in very different directions for a time. Fate could have played out differently. Kiko Martinez thought he did enough to win in 2017 at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Leeds native Josh Warrington got the nod and moved on within a couple fights to win his first major title.

Martinez, Warrington Weights Photos Gallery - Spain’s Kiko Martinez' first defense of his IBF Featherweight World Title against Former World Champion and Leeds Warrior Josh Warrington.

This weekend is “all or nothing” for Josh Warrington, who will have nowhere to go if he doesn’t regain his IBF featherweight title from Kiko Martinez at the First Direct Arena, Leeds, according to Eddie Hearn, who believes a stadium fight against Leigh Wood can happen if Warrington wins.

Josh Warrington promised Kiko Martinez as they jawed at one another Friday afternoon that a lot more than three ounces will separate them Saturday night. Warrington repeatedly yelled, “And the new,” as he and Martinez stood face to face after making weight in Leeds, England, for their 12-round, 126-pound championship rematch at First Direct Arena in Warrington’s hometown.

Martinez, Warrington Final Press Conference Photos Gallery - At the First Direct Arena in Leeds, Spain’s Kiko Martinez' first defence of his IBF Featherweight World Title against Former World Champion and Leeds warrior Josh Warrington. (photos by Mark Robinson)

Nobody would blame Leigh Wood for seeking out a soft touch after what he had to endure in his latest win. The chance of settling for anything less than an A-list opponent next time out, however, are as slim as Wood backing down from a challenge.

By Cliff Rold - It wasn’t that long ago that there was beginning to be an argument that Leeds’ 31-year old Josh Warrington (30-1-1, 7 KO) might be the emerging leader at featherweight. After winning the IBF belt in 2018 with a spirited decision over Lee Selby, Warrington managed three defenses including an impressive outing against former titlist Carl Frampton and a close one against future titlist Kid Galahad.