Can Josh Warrington Become a Two-time Featherweight Champion?
On March 26, Josh “The Leeds Warrior” Warrington (30-1-1, 7KOs) will take on IBF 126-pound champion Kiko “La Sensacion” Martinez (43-10-2, 30KOs) in a rematch from May of 2017. In their first encounter, Warrington would secure a majority decision win. This second tussle has way more on the line than their first encounter.
Warrington, 31, will not only have a chance to become a two-time 126-pound champion, he will also have a chance to win the IBF title for the second time in his career. He won the IBF title defeating Lee Shelby in May of 2018 by split decision. Prior to his fight with Mauricio Lara, he vacated the IBF title.
Things would only get worse as Lara would batter and stop him in nine rounds! In an effort to show that Lara defeat was just a bad night at the office, a rematch would take place. However, just as things were heating up, Lara suffered a nasty cut over his left eye from an accidental headbutt, which resulted in the fight being stopped.
HOPE RENEWED?
As he attempts to put all of his professional troubles behind him, doing so may prove rather difficult. While he’s much younger and fresher heading into this matchup with Martinez, his confidence level, for me, still has a question mark next to it. Conversely, 3Kings Boxing Comeback Fighter of the Year Martinez heads into this matchup rejuvenated and full of confidence after pulling off a shocking upset over Kid Galahad back in November of 2021, knocking out the former champion in six rounds.
While on paper, Warrington appears to be the favorite, so was he against Lara. And we all know how that went. If he’s going to become a two-time featherweight champion, he’s going to have to be the Warrington who made three successful defenses of his title.
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By: Jerrell Fletcher
