Josh Warrington Issues Statement On Shock Loss To Mauricio Lara

Former IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington has spoken out for the first time since he suffered a huge upset loss to regrets Mauricio Lara of Mexico at SSE Arena at Wembley this past weekend.

Warrington was knocked down in the fourth and never recovered. The Leeds boxer continued to take punishment in the following rounds before ultimately being stopping in the ninth frame.

Post-fight it was revealed Warrington suffered several injuries in the fight including a fractured jaw and a burst eardrum.

Warrington has since reflected on the bout and believes he would’ve had a much better night had the opted against exchanging shots with the Mexican puncher.

“I went to hospital on Saturday night, just as a precaution, and passed all the tests. It was the first time I have been down and touched the canvas as a professional,” Warrington said.

“I’ve got a fracture on my jaw and some swelling around my lips but that is to be expected when you trade with a big-punching Mexican,” Warrington added. Congratulations to Lara, he grabbed his opportunity. Looking back, I should have boxed more clever and made it easy for myself.”

Warrington’s corner and the referee have been blasted for not pulling him out earlier but the man himself insists he was always in the fight.

“I was hurt and down in the fourth but I was always conscious and never felt like I couldn’t carry on, even though I was stumbling,” Warrington said. I went down again in the ninth but I told the referee that I was getting up. But he told me I wasn’t and it was all over,” Warrington said.

The former champ will not take some time away to recover before continuing on the path to more boxing titles.

“I will take some time now to recover,” Warrington said. “I was out of the ring for 15 months but I had been training all the way through, waiting for a date, and that was difficult. I still believe I can fulfil my dreams of more world titles. There are still big fights out there and hopefully I can look back at this as just a bump in the road.” (Via BoxingScene)

Do you think Josh Warrington will bounce back from his first career defeat?