Josh Warrington has claimed the IBF featherweight title with a split-decision victory over reigning champion Lee Selby at Elland Road.
Cheered on by thousands of adoring spectators, the Leeds native produced an inspired performance, largely dominating throughout the early proceedings with activity but conceding a few competitive rounds on some scorecards.
The Welshman certainly had his moments – employing a steady jab at range and connecting with clean punches – but for the most part was simply overwhelmed by the sheer relentlessness, the intermittent pressure and the superior hand speed of his counterpart, who was consistently beating him to the punch at close range and winning almost every exchange as a result.
Warrington moved intelligently in and out of range, opening up multiple unsightly gashes on his opponent’s forehead with accidental headbutts that threatened to stop the fight in the sixth round before Selby’s cornerman and manager Chris Sanigar successfully lobbied the ringside doctor to allow his man to continue.
Despite being thoroughly outworked, Selby displayed the stubborn heart of a champion and courageously attempted to rally back as the fight was becoming increasingly out of reach, but the equally tenacious Warrington was able to finish the fight as strongly as he had started it, consummating an emphatic victory where the final outcome should not have been in any doubt whatsoever.
However, the resounding nature of his triumph wasn’t fairly reflected on the scorecards, with somewhat uncharitable tallies of 116-112 and 115-113 in his favour, and most egregiously a 115-113 scorecard in the opposite direction.
In his post-fight interview, Warrington expressed a willingness to eventually face former two-weight world champion and Belfast fan favourite Carl Frampton, but the likelihood of him being confirmed as the opponent for the latter’s summer blockbuster in Windsor Park remains doubtful.