JOSH WARRINGTON RETAINED his IBF featherweight title with a unanimous points victory over Carl Frampton after 12 gripping rounds in Manchester.
The undefeated Yorkshireman started fast and finished strongly to make sure he held on to the belt he claimed from Lee Selby in May, in the process ruining Frampton’s hopes of becoming a three-time world champion.
Warrington had won the belt via a split-decision verdict against Selby at Elland Road – the home of his beloved Leeds United — but was rightly a landslide winner on the cards on this occasion.
Frampton fought valiantly but could have few complaints about the outcome, Warrington getting the nod 116-112 from two judges with the other score reading 116-113.
The Northern Irishman battled bravely but was too often beaten to the punch in a bout that saw both men willing to stand toe to toe at times, much to the delight of the raucous crowd.
Any suggestion the pair may take their time to feel each other out was dismissed in a pulsating opening six minutes that saw Warrington jump all over his opponent.
Frampton somehow withstood the onslaught and appeared to be working his way back into the contest beyond the halfway stage, demonstrating the skills that helped him win major titles previously at super-bantam and featherweight.
Yet the non-stop Warrington was relentless throughout, moving through the gears again to demonstrate his stamina and hand speed down the stretch.
He produced a barrage in the 10th to increase his advantage on the cards and while unable to force a knockdown, let alone a stoppage, his work-rate rightly saw him awarded the victor by a comfortable margin.
Speaking to BT Sport afterwards, Frampton said: “He won the fight fair and square. I came here, had trained hard and was sharp but the better man won and I hope he goes on to unify the division.
“It was just not my night, I was fit and strong but Josh was fitter and stronger. I was hurt a number of times. When people say Josh cannot punch, I don’t know what they are talking about. I didn’t estimate but he was even better than I thought – he can punch hard.”
When asked about his future, the 31-year-old added: “I will have to sit down with my team. I’ve got a young family at home and I’ve been in this game a long time. I have to sit down with my team and figure out the next move.”
Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Andy Dunne preview another big weekend of rugby action and dissect the week’s main talking points.
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Snake in the grass
Two faced Pauly
Sure do a dance for him…
Early school leavers even though they are millionaires usually show their lack of education.
@Tom Reilly: good man Tom . I’d say your woeful “intelligent”. Have you got a “degree” or a “masters” ? Cos your woeful insightful .
@Tom Reilly:
School is probably 1% of your education.
@Nollaig Elliot: try telling that to all the people who don’t have access to a decent education system.
@Joseph Blocks:
Fair point. I figure you get what I was getting at though.
@conex: sarcasm is the lowest form of wit palarino
What a wa***r
What a load of Bxxxxlox…..
Liar liar haircut on fire
Cheers Chris
Ah Pogba’s alright. Yesterday they looked like a united team for the first time since the start of the Van Gaal era. Can’t wait for the next game now.
@Vincent O’Keeffe: get a life, it’s just a game