Josh Warrington KOs Kiko
'Leeds Warrior' Josh Warrington sensationally knocked out Spain's Kiko Martinez in the seventh round to become a two-time IBF world featherweight champion.
In front of his loyal home fans at First Direct Arena in Leeds, the 31-year-old dropped the Spaniard in the first round before the fight was halted two minutes and 12 seconds into the seventh.
The two fighters previously met in 2017, Warrington edging a close points decision, but this time the 'Leeds Warrior' won in clinical style.
It was Warrington's first win since October 2019 as he regains the title he held between 2018 and January 2021. He seemed to hurt his hand in the fight and was also later taken to hospital with a suspected fractured jaw.
"Kiko [is] still not finished. He's a big puncher," Warrington told BBC Radio 5 Live in his post-fight interview. "He's got iron in both hands and he didn't stop coming.
"I've done the same hands what I did in the first fight on his head. Around three or four, I lost feeling in my hands. It was getting to the stage when every time I hit him I went numb."
The First Direct Arena has become synonymous with the 'Leeds Warrior' – it is the 11th time Warrington has headlined at the venue.
Keeping to tradition, he once again walked to the ring to Marching On Together, the Leeds United anthem, followed by I Predict A Riot by Leeds-based indie band Kaiser Chiefs.
Leeds United footballer Luke Ayling accompanied Warrington to the ring, with team-mate Kalvin Phillips at ringside.
Warrington started quick out of the blocks, and midway through the round unleashed a barrage of shots to head and body. Moments later, a vicious right hook then connected flush on the champion and Martinez hit the canvas.
He rose to his feet and, with Warrington sensing an early finish, somehow withstood the subsequent onslaught. Clearly frustrated by a poor start and hampered by a cut to the left eye, Martinez riled his opponent and the crowd by punching Warrington after the bell.
As 'Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire' echoed around the arena, Warrington threw a combination of left and right hooks which again troubled Martinez in the second.
A bloodied Martinez was undeterred. He landed a solid right in the fourth as both fighters traded hooks and uppercuts.
More damage was being done to Martinez's face and while the Spaniard was enjoying some success and seemingly fully recovered from that first-down knockout, he was now cut above both eyes.
As the fight progressed, there was a feeling at ringside that the tempo was starting to slow down, but Warrington had other ideas.
Having just been caught by a right, Warrington returned with ferocious shots which landed from all angles. With Martinez backed up on the ropes and throwing little back, referee Marcus McDonnell had little choice but to intervene.
It was the manner of Warrington's win which will be most pleasing for him and his trainer / father, Sean O'Hagan.
Undercard
Maxi Hughes outpointed Ryan Walsh widely to retain his IBO World lightweight title.
Aussie star Ebanie Bridges became a world champion with a unanimous decision over Maria Cecilia Roman to claim the IBF World female bantamweight belt.
There were wins for Dalton Smith, Calum French, Skye Nicolson, Cory O'Regan and Mali Wright.
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