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Josh Warrington Loses World Title To Luis Alberto Lopez In Leeds Battle

Written by Kerr Ferguson on 11th December 2022.

Josh Warrington And Luis Alberto Lopez

Heartbreak for Josh Warrington in his hometown as he was outpointed by the enigmatic Luis Alberto Lopez.

Lopez came to the UK on a nine fight win streak and has carried himself like a soon-to-be champion. Warrington stood in the way though, his second stint as one of the kings of the division.

The fight card was split down the middle for the Leeds’ crowd to watch England’s World Cup quarter final defeat to France – not quite the mood lifter an arena needs, but spirits were high for Warrington, as they always are.

Luis Alberto Lopez was challenging for Warrington’s IBF World Featherweight title, and he didn’t come to stand off or shy away. The Mexican – who entered the ring with two losses – came out the gates looking to add a 16th knockout to his record.

Warrington started safer – and slower – keeping his guard high and timing shots well when he got the chance. He returned to his corner with a bloody nose.

Just as Mauricio Lara and Kiko Martinez have in the past, Lopez mentioned Warrington leading with the head to the referee. It’s a question the Leeds man really should answer. Seconds later, a clash gave him a cut by the left eye that started streaming. The Mexican looked disappointed as he made his way back to the corner.

Lopez’ speed was impressive and he seemed to thrive on being in the Lions’ den. As for Warrington, he perhaps could have been busier in the first three. The fourth was better for the home fighter in terms of output, but his opponent wasn’t to be deterred – smiling through his gum shield and showing off impressive athleticism with shots coming from all angles.

At the halfway stage, things got a bit spicy – the fighters deep in conversation as they traded big shots. Lopez was becoming more and more prolific with his uppercuts – worrying considering Warrington suffered a broken jaw in his last outing – but the champion landed some eye-catching stuff of his own.

At the eighth, Lopez had landed more than double the shots Warrington had. It didn’t look like a pattern that was going to change, as the champ started to show some signs that the constant, snapping hooks to his body may be slowing him down.

He came out in the ninth, though, like a man who knew he had change the dynamics of the fight and win the last four rounds. Lopez was allowed a time out for a shot that landed on his lower back, and Warrington capitalised on it as soon as he was allowed to, registering his most impressive and dangerous stint in the fight so far.

The pace slowed in the tenth, but momentum shifting slightly back to Lopez. The Mexican fighter came out for the first eleventh round of his professional career well aware that, in six minutes, he could be champion.

Could Warrington be about to have his heart broken by another Mexican who many knew little about? He did everything he could to prevent that towards the end of the round, hurting the Mexican with a big left hook followed by yet another sore clash of heads. Lopez’ complaints to the ref did nothing for him, as the action continued and Warrington landed a couple more.

Warrington left it all in the ring, chasing Lopez around to land some shots that would at most get him a stoppage, or at least play in his favour with the judges. He caught him with another left and showed off some of the aggression and pace that were missing from the earlier rounds. Huge flurries from both ended the action, capping off a fight worth watching.

The unique nerves of scorecards that could be completely surprising filled the arena. They were read out as follows – 114-114, 115-113 in favour of Lopez.

The division has a new world champion, and a fan-favourite fighter who now has decisions to make about where goes next.

Elsewhere on the night, Felix Cash went the full eight rounds to defeat Celso Neves. After ten months out of the ring, the middleweight shook off the ring rust and squared up to Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams post-fight. It’s assumed the undefeated pair will meet in a UK vs US scrap in 2023.

All of the bad blood and insults between Ebanie Bridges and Shannon O’Connell led up to a fight that didn’t disappoint. The Australian grudge match was a fire fight with both women wobbled. Bridges, who’s IBF World Bantamweight title was on the line, dropped O’Connell in the third with a hard right hand.

The challenger came out in the fourth still carrying the damage. She was hurt again in the final minute of that round, but managed to keep playing her part in the back and forth right through until eight when the referee stopped the action.

A brutal flurry from Bridges to an unguarded O’Connell chin after she had beaten the heart out of her over the rounds marked the end of the fight – giving the ever-improving champion a TKO win in yet another great advert for the female side of the sport.

There were wins for Hopey Price, Rhiannon Dixon, Shannon Courtenay, Koby McNamara, and James Metcalf.