IBF World Featherweight Josh Warrington has a date for his next title defense following Matchroom Boxing and DAZN’s announcement last weekend.
THE LEEDS WARRIOR IS BACK! ???? @J_Warrington defends against mandatory challenger Luis Alberto López, December 10 at @fdarena ????#WarringtonLopez pic.twitter.com/BsPlbmWaLQ
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 24, 2022
From the launch of Matchroom Boxing:
“Josh Warrington will defend his IBF Featherweight World Title against Luis Alberto Lopez at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Saturday December 10, live worldwide on DAZN, and Matchroom and DAZN may announce that the unification clash The lightweight match between Hiroto Kyoguchi and Kenshiro Teraji will air live on DAZN in Europe when the pair square off in Saitama, Japan on Tuesday, November 1.
Warrington (31-1-1 8 KOs) regained the IBF strap when he stopped Kiko Martinez at his Leeds fortress in March, with the local hero dropping the Spaniard in the first round before ending things in the seventh. round to punctuate a breakneck performance in front of her adoring fans.
The 31-year-old suffered a broken jaw in his second career win over Martinez, but has made a full recovery and now aims to take care of a dangerous mandatory challenge before aiming for the unification blockbusters.
“So we are back at Leeds Arena, back for the 12th and possibly the last time,” said Warrington. “I am very excited to be back in Leeds. I started the year very well with a sensational 7th round knockout against Kiko Martinez to get my IBF belt back and now I end the year defending my belt against my mandatory, who is a tough Mexican and has waited a long time to fight me. .
“It is going to be a tough fight, he comes forward, he is wild and erratic, I have history with Mexican boxers, but I hope to have a great performance in front of my home crowd.
“I have been saying it for so long about going to the United States and fighting a unification fight. That’s the dream, but due to delays with jaw and hand injuries, I have to fight my term now. I am completely focused on getting the job done, closing the show early and finishing 2022 successfully.”
Lopez (26-2 15 KOs) is no stranger to fighting in the UK, having punched his ticket to a title shot by stopping Isaac Lowe in an elimination clash in London in December. The 29-year-old Mexican has been keeping busy as he awaited his chance to face Warrington, notching stoppage victories in April and August, and will travel to Leeds with ambitions to emulate the impressive KO victory that countryman Mauricio Lara inflicted on Warrington in February 2021. .
“I remember, not long ago, when a Mexican fighter knocked out Josh in his country,” said Alberto López. “On December 10, in his hometown, I am going to silence his fans. The IBF featherweight title will return to Mexico. I dedicate this fight to the Mexican people and to everyone in my hometown of Mexicali. This one is for you and Josh, enjoy that belt while you have it.”
An announcement regarding ticket sales for Warrington vs. Albert Lopez.
Before that matchup, the focus is on Japan and what promises to be a brilliant fight as WBA ruler Kyoguchi and WBC king Teraji put their belts on the line as the light flyweight division makes moves to crown an undisputed champion.
Kyoguchi (16-0 11 KOs) shone in his last outing, stopping Esteban Bermudez in a thrilling eight rounds in Guadalajara in June, his fourth successful defense of the title he took from Hekkie Budler in May 2018. Teraji (19-1 10 KOs) regained his WBC crown in March in a rematch with Masamichi Yabuki, scoring a third-round knockout in Kyoto to gain instant revenge on his compatriot last September, where Yabuki ended Teraji’s five-year reign as WBC king with a surprising tenth-round knockout victory.
The undercard features a more than interested observer as Puerto Rican Johnathan Gonzalez (26-3-1 14 KOs) will look to successfully defend his WBO light flyweight title against undefeated Shokichi Iwata (9-0 6 KOs) before to take a seat ringside to enjoy the main event in hopes of a unification battle with the winner.
“I can’t wait to get back to Leeds, one of the best atmospheres in the world,” said Eddie Hearn. “It’s great to have Josh back in the ring and ready to get emotional again, and those fans will play a big part in pushing their hero to the limit in a tough fight with the dangerous Mexican Alberto Lopez.
“Before that, we will have a brilliant night of boxing in Japan on November 1. Hiroto has become the number one light flyweight in the world, but Kenshiro will want to take that title and the WBA belt, this fight cannot. If he fails to entertain, fireworks are guaranteed and the winner will take a big step towards a indisputable fight.”
