It was a brutal fight between Josh Warrington and Kiko Martinez at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Saturday night as Warrington regained his IBF Featherweight crown. The fight was won with a knockout in the seventh round after Warrington had given the Spaniard cuts over both eyes.
However, it was not just the reigning champion who suffered damage in the fight as Warrington revealed after the bout that he had suffered a broken jaw. The new IBF Champion was taken to hospital for an x-ray after the fight where the injury was confirmed, with promoter Eddie Hearn releasing a photo of the scan on social media.
The win means that a potential unification bout with Leigh Wood could take place, with the City Ground touted as a potential venue with the Nottingham born fighter currently holding the WBA (Regular) belt. However, Warrington will be focused on recovery after winning his first fight since October 2019.
Wood, who was on punditry for DAZN, refused to call out Warrington allowing the Leeds fighter to enjoy the moment before the Leeds Warrior discussed his options himself. He said: “In an ideal I’d love to go to the States. But Leigh Wood’s just become champion. I’d like an away day. I love it here. We’ve been talking about going to the States for so long. There’s options. We can go States, go to the City Ground (to fight Wood in Nottingham), I’m sure these (fans) will travel with me. I’ll sit down with Eddie Hearn and we’ll see.”
Warrington added: "I got my belt back! It weren't just for me, it weren't just for my family, wife and kids, it was for all of these fans who supported me. I got seven bells knocked out of me, but I made sure. They were there supporting me at Headingley and they're there again for the world title.
"You know what? We may not do the same numbers as the big boys, the AJs, the Furys, but I'd rather have an arena full of these lot than f***ing 100,000 tourists any day of the week.
"I know I'm not Eddie's cup of Yorkshire tea, but when I'm on it and these lot turn out, he knows there's nothing f***ing like it in the world, never mind the country. We do alright, we're not bad, come on Leeds!"
