Josh Warrington enters the ring on Saturday night as he faces a strong challenge to his IBF world featherweight title against Mexico's Alberto Lopez in Leeds.
The First Direct Arena hosts Warrington's first defence of his featherweight crown having regained the title with a win against Kiko Martinez at the same venue in March this year. Also on the card is Australian Ebanie Bridges who has become a home favourite for her passionate support of Leeds United, she takes on compatriot Shannon O'Connell for the IBF world bantamweight title.
Warrington has bounced back well from his upset against Mauricio Lara, with the 22-year-old Mexican inflicting his first career defeat in a huge upset in February 2021. He drew the rematch after the fight was stopped due to an accidental head clash before regaining his IBF title against Martinez this spring.
READ MORE: Josh Warrington fight times changed for England vs France in World Cup
How to buy tickets for Warrington vs Lopez
Tickets are still available here for the fight, with the card being paused for England's World Cup quarter final against France, with the match kicking off at 7pm. The fights will then resume following the completion of the match, with the final three fights taking place after the final whistle.
What Warrington has said
It is a resurgence for the 32-year-old who has become a huge hit with fans across the world, and speaking ahead of the fight this week, Warrington has admitted his dream to fight in a unification bout to cement his status as one of the best. He said: “I don’t want to end my career and think I never had my chance to unify,”
He continued: "There’s talks about Leigh Wood but with him only having the regular title, it doesn’t qualify as unification. There’s talks of [Mauricio] Lara, I’d love that fight and I’d love to put it to bed and he’s starting to say it’s all personal, but first and foremost I’d like to fight one of the champions, Rey Vargas, Santa Cruz, Navarrete if he’s till at featherweight. After that, your Leigh Woods, Lara III, I’d be open to anything.”
Such a unification bout could take the Leeds Warrior out of Yorkshire and over to the USA, with a Las Vegas fight a dream for Warrington as well as his fans. he admitted: “If I had a quid [dollar] for everyone who said, ‘Josh, are we off to America or what?’ I’d be doing alright, because so many have got passports and credit cards waiting and a lot of people have been there from the leisure centres to the Elland Roads and the Headinglys and I’d like to be there… and I know Eddie definitely wants to go there, so I’m hoping he can deliver it at some point next year.
"He’s the man with the connections in the States… I know he’d love to be in a bar somewhere stood there looking around seeing the fans going absolutely berserk… I’m pretty sure he’ll want it to happen. Let’s just introduce ourselves to the American public and audience, we might even get invited back.”
READ NEXT:
- Wilfried Gnonto opens up on Jesse Marsch's 'not ready' Leeds United comments and proving him wrong
- Koch discomfort, Summerville returns, Forshaw leads winners on Leeds United day three in Spain
- Jack Harrison's eight-week Leeds United lay-off risk, playing injured and hidden causes critics miss
- Leeds United break their silence on €21m Augustin transfer saga with RB Leipzig resolution
- Jack Harrison's Leeds United contract talks set to begin as Victor Orta readies Elland Road offer
