Home Breaking Warrington Blasts Out Takoucht In Two in Leeds

Warrington Blasts Out Takoucht In Two in Leeds

Zelfa Barrett retains Commonweath strap in nine rounds on undercard

By
Paul Mason
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Josh Warrington is eyeing a unification fight in 2020 Credit: Josh Warrington
Josh Warrington has vacated his IBF world title . Credit: Josh Warrington

Josh Warrington has called for a unification clash after swatting aside Sofiane Takoucht to in just two rounds to retain his IBF featherweight title at the First Direct Arena in Leeds

The second round is where the collateral damage was done, as first, Warrington (30-0) dropped the Frenchman with a straight right hand. Takoucht made the count, but after a flurry of shots, he was soon on the canvas again.

Again the visitor rose, but this time there would be no mercy, as another volley of punches left Takoucht (35-4-1) all at sea, with referee Bob Williams left with no choice but to call a halt to proceedings.

Takoucht had no business in a World Title contest, but Warrington did what he had to do in a routine defence of his crown.

Talk post-fight turned to unification fights next for “The Leeds Warrior” with Xu Can, the WBA “Regular” title holder at Featherweight talked of as a possible next foe for Warrington. The Chinese Champion first has a defence against Manny Robles booked for November 23.

In the chief support, Zelfa Barrett (23-1) retained his Commonwealth super featherweight title with a convincing ninth round stoppage of the gallant Jordan McCorry (18-7-1).

It was a tentative opening round, with both men sizing the other up, McCorry slightly the busier with his right hand. Two big Barrett lefts were the highlight of round two, as ‘Brown Flash’ began to warm to the task.

Barrett targeted the body in the third, sending the Scot to the canvas with a wicked left hand shot to the body. “Jordy” rose and answered the count, and was able to negotiate his way to the end of the round.

McCorry always comes to fight, and unloaded some decent shots in the fourth as he continually talked to Barrett mid fight.

Barrett took control of the middle rounds, whilst McCorry landed the odd right hand as he charged forward.

A left to the body followed by a big right to the head put McCorry down for a second time in the eighth, and the Cambuslang man again rose to his feet.

What followed shortly after was a blow well south of the belt line that forced Barrett to take a breathe. This only fuelled his fire as he attacked again on the resumption, while McCorry was deducted a point for punching after the bell.

A short left uppercut from Barrett in the ninth felled the brave McCorry for a third time, and his corner had seen enough while the referee started the count which was then dispensed with.

Elsewhere on the undercard, unbeaten Lyndon Arthur (16-0) had to survive some rocky moments, but scored a knockdown and eventually grounded out a unanimous points win against the tough Ghanaian, Emannuel Anim (14-3-1) to win the vacant commonwealth light heavyweight title.

Anim was cut on both eyes in the fourth, and this sparked Arthur into action, dropping the Accra native with a sharp right hand at. The visitor did well to make it to his feet, and see out the session, but was getting more and more ragged from the resumption as Arthur took control.

Following some hairy moments for Arthur in the eighth, the Moston man regained control in the ninth. The tenth saw Anim again have worryingly successes, with Arthur seemingly tiring in his first scheduled twelve rounder.

The final frame was a much more subdued affair, but Arthur finished with a cut on his left eye as he claimed a point win.

Full undercard results:

Troy Williamson bt Ben Douglas- TKO

Shabaz Masoud bt Yesner Talavera- PTS

Mark Heffron bt Rui Pavanito- TKO

Shakiel Thompson bt Lewis van Poetsch- PTS

John Joyce bt Jordan Grannum- PTS

Reece Mould bt Bayardo Ramos- PTS

Callum Simpson bt Kiril Psonko- PTS

George Davey bt Zygimantas Butkevicius- PTS

Jack Daniel bt Jamie Speight- PTS

Evaldas Petrauskas bt Johnson Tellez- PTS

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