Nearly five years after their original meeting, Josh Warrington plays the role of challenger, as he tackles IBF featherweight champion, Kiko Martinez, for a second time on top of a Matchroom bill at the First Direct Arena in Leeds this Saturday night.
DAZN is the place to watch the drama between Warrington and Martinez unfold.
Warrington (30-1-1, 7 KOs) took a majority decision win over Martinez (43-10-2, 30 KOs) in May 2017, and two fights later ‘The Leeds Warrior’ was world champion, taking the IBF crown he fights for this weekend in an assured split decision win over Lee Selby at Elland Road.
The 31-year-old backed that up with a superb points win over Carl Frampton, but then squeezed past Kid Galahad via split decision in June 2019.
After an impressive second round knockout of Sofiane Takoucht in October of the same year, it looked like the Leeds man was set to break America and the world, and he vacated his belt in search of big fights.
He took over a year out, and in February, he returned to face Mauricio Lara in a fight designed to shake the ring rust. Instead, Warrington was stunned, dropped in the fourth and taking a lot of punishment before being stopped in nine rounds.
The former titlist attempted to make amends in a rematch at Headingley Stadium nine months later, but the fight was cut short due to a Lara cut eye in the second, leaving the Mexican unable to continue, and the contest was ruled a technical draw.
Rather than a trilogy match, Warrington attempts to become a two-time world champion instead.
Martinez is a man that simply will not go away, and it has looked like the man from Alicante’s career has been over several times, only for hm to shock the world time and again.
The 36-year-old Spaniard ruled as world champion at super bantamweight in 2013/14, and he was drafted in as a voluntary challenger to Kid Galahad for the IBF belt last November.
‘La Sensacion’, a 55-fight veteran, again defied the odds, knocking out the Sheffield in six rounds to once again rise to the summit.
Prediction: Warrington’s defeat to Lara was a scarring one, and he is still very much on the rebuild. Martinez always comes prepared for war, and he may very well push Warrington into deep waters here, but I expect Warrington to prevail via a hard-fought points win.
Bridges faces Roman for world title
Popular Australian, Ebanie Bridges challenges for world honours for a second time, this time attempting to take the IBF title from Argentine champion, Maria Cecilia Roman, who makes the seventh defence of a title she won back in August 2017.
Bridges (7-1, 3 KOs) came up short in a challenge for Shannon Courtnenay’s WBA strap in April last year, losing on the cards, and she has won twice since, the last a slightly fortunate one point win over eight against Mailys Gangloff last September.
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Roman (16-5-1) has mainly campaigned in her homeland, and last defended her belt last November, taking a points win against Daniela Barbara Rivero.
Prediction: Bridges can become world champion on the cards.
Hughes defends IBO title
Few have had a better 18 months in the sport than Maxi Hughes, and he defends his IBO lightweight title against Ryan Walsh in an intriguing clash.
Hughes (24-5-2, 5 KOs) is a real life Cinderella man, and has enjoyed some eye-catching victories in the recent past, culminating in winning the title in a landslide points win against Jovanni Straffon last September.
Walsh (27-3-2, 12 KOs) steps up from featherweight, after a long spell as British champion, and he lost his last fight at the weight in a points defeat to James ‘Jazza’ Dickens.
The 35-year-old saw Ronnie Clark last December over six rounds.
Prediction: Hughes is in the form of his life, and the move up in weight may not suit Walsh, so I favour the champion to retain via the distance.
Smith meets Moylette
Dalton Smith (9-0, 7 KOs) goes for another title, and ‘Thunder’ tackles Ireland’s Ray Moylette (12-1, 5 KOs), with the vacant WBC International Silver super lightweight title the prize on offer.
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Prediction: Moylette has only lost once, via tight split decision, so Smith may need all ten rounds to take the belt home.
Remaining Undercard
Australian featherweight prospect, Skye Nicolson fights for the second time as a professional and three weeks after a successful debut, when she faces the experienced Bec Connolly.
Prediction: Nicolson can secure a second pro win on points.
Prospects Calum French, Mali Wright and Cory O’Regan all feature against opponents to be confirmed.
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