Via Scott Gilfoid: Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that Josh Warrington fractured his jaw in the seventh round of his TKO win over IBF featherweight champion Kiko Martinez last Saturday night at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, Brother.
Hearn said Warrington’s injury occurred 30 seconds before referee Marcus McDonnell stepped in and stopped the contest due to Martinez capturing a series of headers while leaning against the rope in the seventh inning.
Kiko’s face cut into ribbon
However, Warrington was not the only one wounded in the battle. Kiko’s face has been literally cut into strips, befitting Josh’s first fighting style. Martinez suffered three severe slashes, one to his eye and one to his forehead.
Poor Kiko looked like Frankenstein’s monster by the time the fight ended, and not because of what Warrington did with his fists.
Continuously, Warrington moved forward with his head resting on Martinez’s face to perform the task inside. Although Warrington was cautioned by the referee for heading, that didn’t stop Kiko from cutting, proving his actions.
With blood gushing out like a fountain in both eyes, Martinez looked like a blind man searching for a light switch inside the ring from the first half until the bitter end in the seventh.
Why did the referee not do the right thing and far ahead of Warrington for coming first All night is the magic question. You would think that at the very least, Warrington should have at least one point deducted, based on the three cuts Kiko has suffered.
If the referee had known what had happened to Warrington’s eventual opponent, Mauricio Lara, badly cut in the second round of last September’s rematch, he should have done it right and penalty and, if necessary, disqualify Josh for head use. .
Confirmation from the hospital @J_Warrington Broken jaw before stopping Kiko Martinez from winning the World Championship tonight @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/Oc3xI83tzZ
– Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) March 27, 2022
Going forward, if you’re WBA Super 126-lb champion Leo Santa Cruz or his promoter, you’ve got to worry a little more when it comes to what happened to Warrington’s last two opponents in terms of they are cut.
Hearn is talking about the idea Warrington is likely going to the US to fight in Las Vegas, but he may not get the fight he wants against Santa Cruz after his latest performance against Kiko.
Santa Cruz has better things to do with his career than worry about being cut off by Warrington. Leo probably wouldn’t want to take six to twelve months to recover from the cuts he suffered from his fight with Warrington, which may not go far if the doctor halts the fight.
Warrington’s IBF Mandatory Due
“It was a brilliant performance from Josh, one of the best of his career,” promoter Eddie Hearn told iFL TV of Warrington’s seventh-round win over Kiko Martinez.
“He’s required to be in IBF, you have Leigh Wood,” Hearn said of who could be next for Warrington. “It’s a guy, Isaac Lowe [that is Warrington’s mandatory with the IBF]. Honestly, we don’t really want that fight, but we might have to take that fight,” Hearn said.
Gilfoid wants to know How did Isaac Lowe become Warringtont’s mandatory IBF? Lowe was eliminated in the seventh round of his final fight by Luis Alberto Lopez last December. How in the world is Lowe still a mandatory IBF after that failure?
Who Warrington should fight next is Mauricio Lara, given what happened in their rematch last September. Lara knocked out Warrington in the ninth round in their first match, and then in the rematch, Josh repeatedly headbutted the Mexican slugger until his face was cut off.
Regardless of Warrington’s unintentional head bumps, what’s clear is that they happen because of his first fighting style. More than anyone else, Lara should be the one Warrington fights next, if not Kiko.
“Either way, we’re in position on Monday to see what he’ll do. He was sitting there with a belt around his waist,” Hearn said.
“We have two world champions. Leigh Wood defends her world title and Josh Warrington is the new world champion, so it’s been a great couple of weeks, but more importantly, two great performances, two incredible atmospheres. and we’ll see what happens on Monday.
“The atmosphere in the first half and the ending was unbelievable. I am very happy for Josh. He’s had a tough year and a half,” Hearn said. “He’s focused and worked hard, and tonight he’s a two-time world champion.
Josh’s career is coming to an end
“I think so,” Hearn said when asked if Warrington’s career would end if he lost to Kiko. “I always say this in games because like Josh Warrington and Kiko Martinez both operate at the highest level. I think any of them have lost tonight, they’re going to have to retire.
“I thought Kiko was brilliant, he was tough. He did not stop trying in the fight. He’s always dangerous in teamfights, and I think that’s also a great stop from Marcus McDonnell.
“Yeah, because he’s always dangerous,” Hearn said when asked if he was worried about Warrington going overboard in the first round after dropping Kiko.
“Kiko broke Josh Warrington’s jaw for about 30 seconds before he stopped him. So he can punch. He’s also great with his body, Kiko Martinez. He has two cuts on his eyes, one on his forehead, but he will never give up, he will never stop trying and he is always dangerous.
Hearn said: “Until injury time, I still thought Kiko was very dangerous and capable of turning the situation around.
As far as I can tell, Kiko didn’t fight Warrington in the final 30 seconds of the fight. Josh’s jaw injury likely occurred in the second round when he was nailed by a hard left hook from Kiko and immediately backed off as if shocked by an electric shock.
