Josh ‘The Leeds Warrior’ Warrington 30-1-1 (7) had to settle for a technical draw against Mauricio ‘Bronco’ Lara 23-2-1 (16) after an accidental clash of heads saw the fight abandoned after two rounds at Headingley Rugby League Stadium in Leeds, England on Saturday night.
The fight started at a brisk pace with Lara stalking and Warrington picking his moments to engage. Both boxer had success in the opening frame and returned to their corners confident in their work.
Late in the second round Warrington, 30, came out of a crouch and accidentally butted Lara causing a large cut over his left eye. The 23-year-old Mexican immediately complained to referee Steve Gray who correctly rule the injury was the result of a headclash.
Lara saw out the round but was visibly bothered by the cut as he headed back to his stool.
When the one minute rest period concluded the ringside physician examined the injury before advising referee Gray that Lara was in no condition to continue.
The packed house booed the result.
The fight was a rematch of Warrington’s ninth-round knockout loss to Lara at Wembley Arena in London in February.
In that fight the unheralded Lara surprised Warrington early, knocking him down in the fourth round and again in the ninth before the bout was halted.
It was a bitter loss for the Leeds man, who has had revenge on his mind ever since.
Warrington accepted the result of the second fight although his disappointment was palpable.
“These things happen but it’s the first time something as serious as this. I am gutted. Gutted,” former IBF featherweight champion Warrington said.
“After the first round I thought how did I get knocked out in first fight?
“We had a gameplan to go more defensively sound but I felt with the crowd here I was tempted and eager to get into a bit of a scrap and put in a performance and that was going to come. I felt I was warming into it.”
After the first fight took place with no crowd due to Covid-19 restrictions, Warrington was thrilled to be boxing in front of his adoring hometown fans once again.
He apologised to them in the ring after the fight and again in his post-fight interview.
“You seen the reception we had when we walked out, all these people have paid their hard-earned money to see me get redemption tonight,” he said.
“These things happen. I thought I’d open him up with a punch in the first round.
“It was a clash of styles, my head’s hit him and I’m absolutely gutted.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn said he would like to get Warrington back in the ring as soon as possible before looking at staging a third fight against Lara early in the new year.
