Josh Warrington faces Kiko Martinez for the IBF featherweight title in Leeds tonight
(Picture: PA)Josh Warrington takes on Kiko Martinez for the second time in Leeds tonight in a bid to become a two-time boxing world champion.
Warrington is out to become the IBF featherweight titlist once again after a shock defeat and then a frustrating draw against Mauricio Lara in his previous two fights.
Just two weeks after Leigh Wood’s incredible last-gasp knockout of Michael Conlan in Nottingham, the buzzing 126lbs division takes centre stage once more.
Warrington is hoping to regain the belt he relinquished in January 2021 on home soil, moving on from a frustrating pair of fights against Lara.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW MARTINEZ VS WARRINGTON LIVE
After being stunned by a shock stoppage defeat to the Mexican at Wembley Arena last February, Warrington was unable to gain revenge at Headingley in September as a horror cut sustained by Lara following an accidental clash of heads caused their rematch to be waved off after two rounds and ruled a technical draw.
While the ‘Leeds Warrior’ will still be keen for revenge against Lara, now he must refocus on a chance to become a two-time world champion as he squares off against a familiar opponent in Martinez.
The duo clashed at the very same venue back in May 2017, with Warrington winning via majority decision as he retained his WBC international title, winning the full IBF crown two fights later against Lee Selby at Elland Road.
Martinez has been thrust back into relevance at the top level after a devastating sixth-round upset of Kid Galahad in Sheffield in November saw him swiftly end the latter’s brief championship reign.
Now 36, the Spaniard is himself a two-weight world champion, having previously held the IBF super-bantamweight title before losing to Carl Frampton for the second time in 2014.
As well as those memorable fights with Frampton, the vastly experienced Martinez has also lost world title bouts against the likes of Leo Santa Cruz, Gary Russell Jr and Scott Quigg.
He last fought on these shores in February 2021, dropping a controversial decision against Zelfa Barrett on the Warrington-Lara undercard. Eddie Hearn would later criticise two of the scorecards in that fight as “absolutely disgusting”.
Martinez vs Warrington date, start time, venue and ring walks
Kiko Martinez vs Josh Warrington 2 takes place tonight, Saturday March 26, 2022, at the First Direct Arena in the challenger’s hometown of Leeds, the exact same location as their first fight in 2017.
The main card will begin at 7pm GMT, with the main event no earlier than 10pm.
As ever, the exact start time will depend on the progress of the undercard bouts.
Martinez vs Warrington fight card/undercard in full
Kiko Martinez vs Josh Warrington
Maxi Hughes vs Ryan Walsh
Maria Cecilia Roman vs Ebanie Bridges
Dalton Smith vs Ray Moylette
Calum French vs Angelo Turco
Mali Wright vs Luis Palmer
Cory O’Regan vs Jakub Laskowski
Skye Nicolson vs Bec Connelly
How to watch Martinez vs Warrington
TV channel: Martinez vs Warrington 2 is being broadcast live on sports video streaming service DAZN. A subscription to DAZN currently costs £7.99 a month in the UK.
Live stream: You can also follow all the action as it happens with Standard Sport’s live fight night blog, which will cover the whole card in its entirety.
Martinez vs Warrington fight prediction
Plenty of questions have been asked about Warrington since that devastating defeat to the unheralded Lara that derailed a previously unbeaten career.
Having just given up his IBF belt to go after other titles due to the organisation’s refusal to sanction a bout with WBC champion Xu Can, since deposed by Leigh Wood, suddenly a brutal knockout by a little-known opponent following 16 months of inactivity scuppered all of his best-laid plans.
The fact that grisly cut stopped him from seeking revenge on Lara will still be gnawing away at Warrington, but he has to get his mind right for this one and prove he has plenty still left in the tank.
Another defeat seems unthinkable at this stage if he wants to remain relevant at the top level and potentially go on to realise those mammoth featherweight showdowns.
Though he knows how to beat Martinez, the experienced and wily Spaniard remains a tough and dangerous proposition, as Kid Galahad now knows only too well.
This is all about mentality for Warrington, who will want to feed off his ever-adoring home crowd and prove his energetic, swarming style and punch resistance remains intact.
Warrington to regain the title on points.
Martinez vs Warrington weigh-in results
Martinez tipped the scales at 125.4lbs at Friday’s weigh-in, with Warrington slightly heavier at 125.7lbs.
“At the back end of 2019 I was loving the sport, I was top of the world. But I had 15 months out then just took a little tickover fight and ended up getting knocked out,” Warrington said.
“The rematch, there was rehab, questions about whether I was still there and had I lost it? The camp was enough to beat Lara but it wasn’t the best camp. What happened happened in the fight.
“But as I got back in the gym and started camp, I had the bit between my teeth like I had of old, like I was on the way up. I’m loving it and I can’t wait for fight night.
“Some boxing experts are saying ‘he’s seen better days’, I thrive off that and I want to show them wrong. Physically I’m in really good condition and mentally confidence is through the roof.”
Martinez vs Warrington betting odds
Martinez win: 11/4
Warrington win: 1/4
Draw: 20/1
Martinez win on points or by decision: 22/1
Martinez win by KO, TKO or DQ: 10/3
Warrington win on points or by decision: 8/11
Warrington win by KO, TKO or DQ: 3/1
