Carl Frampton has weighed in on head clashes in Josh Warrington bouts – something fans and opponents have been increasingly drawing attention to.
Heads come together in boxing, with varying degrees of severity and malice. Often a mix of different heights and styles causes fighters to butt together, but, in other cases, leading with the head is more of a tactic than a mistake.
Fans have different opinions on Josh Warrington in this regard, but there’s no question that it’s becoming a problem for opponents.
The last three men to fight the Leeds man – Mauricio Lara, Kiko Martinez, and Luis Alberto Lopez – have all had words with the referee about head clashes, and the Lara fight was even cut short due to a nasty cut on the Mexican’s eye.
Carl Frampton, who lost his IBF world featherweight title to Warrington back in 2018, has given his thoughts via a Sunday World column.
“Josh has received a lot of criticism once again due to his use of the head, but I don’t remember the same criticism when we fought despite my head being up like a bap afterwards!
The use of his head is something he’s always seemed to get away with, but that is beginning to change. He bulls forward with the head and seems to disguise it quite well, but if you are getting away with it then boxing is a case of win at all costs so good luck to him.
I’d imagine that Lopez and many others including the media are now starting to draw attention to it, so it seems referees are beginning to notice.”
As the former champion says, until referees step in then it’s ‘win at all costs.’
Unfortunately for Warrington, he came up short against Lopez in a tight contest of two halves. The Leeds star lost his world title that night, however is keen to continue to fight on and fill arenas with his loyal following.
Frampton, despite believing that loss is a difficult one to come back from, reckons a fight against Michael Conlan could be the way to go.
“I’m not saying this is the end for him, but this is going to be difficult for him to bounce back from although should Mick Conlan be unable to get a world title fight next, perhaps that could be made as it would be a monster fight.”
It’s an intriguing prospect for fans, as well as the often-discussed Leigh Wood fight.