Well, that was quick.
Barely a few hours after parting ways with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions, Josh Warrington (30-0, 7KOs) has secured a new home—actually an old one. The unbeaten featherweight titlist has agreed to a multi-fight deal with rival promotional outfit Matchroom Boxing, under whose banner he previously fight until leaving in December 2016 to sign with Warren.
“It's great to be back with Matchroom, Sky and now DAZN and I'm very excited about the future,” said Warrington. “I have enjoyed my time at BT [Sport] but now I’m looking forward to going on to achieve my dreams of both fighting in the USA and unifying the division."
Per the official announcement, all of Warrington's fights under the new agreement will air exclusively on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and stream live on DAZN in the United States. An official press conference to formally announce the event has been scheduled for Thursday at Headingley Stadium in Warrington's hometown of Leeds, England.
The 30-year old claimed his piece of the featherweight crown following a 12-round win over Lee Selby in their memorable May 2018 clash at Leeds' Elland Road football stadium. The location was a perfect fit, as Warrington became the first-ever boxer from Leeds to claim a major title.
Three successful defenses have followed, including a points win over former two-division titlist Carl Frampton in December 2018. The bout marked Warrington's lone title fight outside of his hometown, with the event taking place in Manchester, England. Each of his two wins in 2019 both took place in Leeds, turning away then-unbeaten mandatory challenger Kid Galahad in their competitive 12-round affair last June before stopping France's Sofiane Takoucht in the 2nd round of a voluntary title defense last October.
Efforts to secure a unification bout with heated divisional rival Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7KOs) hit a wall, which meant bad news for Warren as his promotional contract with Warrington has since expired. The two parted on what was insisted as amicable terms, though such sentiments were offered before this development.
One man who is over the moon with the news is Warrington's old boss who is firmly back in the mix.
“I’m ecstatic to welcome Josh Warrington back to Matchroom,” said Hearn. “We had some amazing times helping to build Josh in Leeds and now we re-unite at a time when he is the king of the division. "Josh has some of the most loyal and passionate supporters in sport and we look forward to delivering nights they will never forget. There is so much more for Josh to accomplish and today starts a new chapter in the thrilling Josh Warrington story.”
Details of Warrington's next fight have not been revealed in either promotional announcement.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
