Josh Warrington gets surprise shot at IBF world title in his own backyard
Josh Warrington looks set to take on Kiko Martinez at the First Direct Arena with the Spaniard's IBF world title up for grabs.
Warrington has been handed an unexpected shot at the world featherweight title after a deal was struck to fight Kiko Martinez.
Martinez looks set to defend the IBF featherweight title Warrington once owned against the former champion on March 26 at the First Direct Arena, Leeds.
Martinez (43-10-2, 30 KOs) scored a surprise win over Kid Galahad in November in Galahad's own backyard of Sheffild.
In one of the shock's on 2021, Martinez floored Galahad at the end of the fifth round with a clubbing right hand and he promptly knocked him out at the start of the sixth with another pinpoint right.
KIKO MARTINEZ KNOCKS OUT KID GALAHAD WITH THE FIRST PUNCH OF THE SIXTH ROUND!#GalahadMartinez pic.twitter.com/ztiAREQKyo
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 13, 2021
Warrington (30-1-1, 7 KOs) vacated his IBF featherweight world title last January after the governing body refused to sanction a unification fight with WBA champion Xu Can.
Mauricio Lara rematch
Warrington got a re-match with Lara (23-2-1, 16 KOs) in September. But the bout was declared a draw when an innocuous clash of heads midway through the second round proved decisive.
"I'm absolutely gutted," he said afterward a clash of styles has produced a monstrous cut above Lara's right eye. Before later telling Planet Sport: "I would love to put the Lara situation right."
It's somewhat of a shock that Martinez decided to opt for a showdown with Warrington rather than another fighter ranked in the top 10.
It's also a calculated risk to fight again in the UK, and expecially in Warrington's Leeds stronghold, rather than at a neutral venue.
Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing are set to announce the fight soon.