Josh Warrington was overcome with emotion after regaining the IBF featherweight title
(Picture: Getty Images)Josh Warrington became a two-time world champion with a stunning display to dethrone Kiko Martinez in Leeds on Saturday night.
The 31-year-old successfully regained the IBF featherweight title he vacated last year with a fearsome showcase of relentless power in front of an adoring hometown crowd at the First Direct Arena, successfully putting a nightmare 18 months behind him.
Warrington set the tone for a memorable night with a non-stop onslaught in an electric opening, quickly dropping experienced campaigner Martinez - who by the end was bleeding profusely from two cuts above his eyelids and another to the forehead - before another spiteful barrage forced the referee to step in to wave off the contest in round number seven.
It was a critical performance and a crucial win for Warrington, who saw his career aspirations totally derailed by a shocking stoppage defeat against the previously unknown Mauricio Lara behind closed doors at Wembley Arena last February. That was one of the biggest upsets seen in a British boxing ring in recent years.
His attempts to gain swift revenge for that first career loss were then thwarted at Headingley in September, with the rematch halted after only two rounds and ruled a technical draw due to a gruesome cut sustained by Lara following an accidental clash of heads.
Warrington - who narrowly outpointed Martinez in their first fight at the same venue five years ago - can now look forward to some potentially massive fights in an exciting 126lbs division, with potential unification battles ahead against the likes of WBA ‘regular’ champion Leigh Wood, WBA ‘super’ champion Leo Santa Cruz or WBO king Emanuel Navarrete.
Long-reigning Gary Russell Jr was deposed as WBC featherweight champion by Mark Magsayo in an upset back in January.
Or Warrington - now keen for a fight in the USA - could alternatively choose to try and pursue a third battle against Lara to attempt to gain some much-needed closure on that frustrating chapter, though the latter provided another example of his dangerous punching power with an emphatic stoppage of Emilio Sanchez in San Diego earlier this month.
On Saturday’s undercard in Yorkshire, Australia’s Ebanie Bridges realised her world title dream at the second attempt, in her ninth professional fight.
Just under a year since her defeat by Shannon Courtenay, the ‘Blonde Bomber’ claimed a unanimous decision victory over the experienced and long-reigning Argentine Maria Cecilia Roman to claim the IBF women’s bantamweight belt.
There was no such celebration for Ryan Walsh, who was dominated by Maxi Hughes as the Doncaster fighter mounted a hugely successful first defence of his IBO lightweight world title.
Highly-rated Sheffield rising star Dalton Smith took the WBC international silver super-lightweight championship, stopping Ray Moylette in the final round after earlier having two points deducted for a low blow.
The main undercard began with a comfortable second pro victory for 2018 Commonwealth Games champion Skye Nicolson over Bec Connolly.
There were also opening wins for Cory O’Regan, Mali Wright and Calum French.
