Leeds Warrior Josh Warrington has lost his IBF featherweight title to Luis Alberto Lopez in his hometown at the First Direct Arena. Judge Howard Foster scored the fight a 114-114 draw, but the other two judges scored it 115-113 to the Mexican, who imposed himself during the middle rounds and held on despite a late Warrington flurry.
It was a remarkable display that leaves Warrington having to come to terms with another devastating loss. Lopez did this against the odds, he was booed from the moment he entered the First Direct Arena, but looked confident as he walked to the ring. The Mexican, after 28 fights and two defeats, handed the Leeds crowd more pain after they watched England crash out of the World Cup on the big screens.
Marching On Together welcomed Warrington and this crowd were in need of a lift after that Three Lions’ exit. Instead they would be left to deal with two dramatic losses on the same night. It was a thrilling opening round as Lopez immediately went on the offensive and Warrington his usual high guard, but struggled to gain control with his jab. By the end, his nose was bloodied and the Mexican was high on confidence.
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In the second, Lopez had his eye cut after a clash of heads. It was something that had been talked about in the build up, especially given the rematch fight with Mauricio Lara was ruled a technical draw for that same very reason. Three came and went with both fighters trading, but no clear winner.
The Leeds Warrior was being pushed to his limits yet again and every round was tightly contested. Tony Bellew had Lopez ahead after five, but in round seven Warrington began to impose himself on the fight. He landed some key body shots but El Venado again came back to finish the round well.
The Mexican was having success with the left jab to the body and was doing well to win rounds in the fight, while the home favourite Warrington needed to get back to the left jab that had served him well early on. In round nine he piled on the pressure and landed several key blows to the head, as Lopez complained of more dirty tactics.
Round ten was the furthest Lopez had been in his professional career but he showed little sign of slowing down, as he continued to trouble the Leeds Warrior. Warrington landed a stiff left hook in the 11th and then a solid right which made his opponent look uncomfortable for the first time. Then, near the end of the round, he hit him with a huge left hook and then while his opponent was complaining, continued to unleash fury on him.
He couldn’t knock him out, but as we entered the 12th, he was back in contention. It was a thrilling final round with Warrington on top again but there was basically nothing to choose between them as we went to the scorecards.
After the winner was announced, Lopez said Warrington was a dirty fighter in his interview while the Leeds man struggled to come to terms with the loss, and the fact that unification is now unlikely.
Meanwhile earlier in the night, Ebanie Bridges and Shannon O’Connell put on a show as they slogged it out, with the Australian eventually stopping her opponent in the ninth round to retain her IBF Bantamweight title. Howard Foster was forced to jump in after Bridges landed several blows to Shotgun Shannon as she struggled to return fire.
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