Why would Josh Warrington give up his IBF world title to face Mauricio Lara?

Wembley Arena, London, UK, Saturday, February 13th, 2021 (DAZN): Josh Warrington vs. Mauricio Lara, featherweights boxing in a 10 round prize fight.

Josh Warrington was a world title holder whose career peaked in 2018. In May that year he took the IBF world featherweight title from Lee Selby via split decision in front of his hometown crowd in Leeds, UK.

In December in his first defense of the belt he topped that with a unanimous decision win over Carl Frampton in Manchester Arena.

Fast forward to February 13th, 2021. How did “The Leeds Warrior” lose his IBF world title? Did he go out on his shield and lose to a better man by dramatic KO? Was it a close loss on the cards? NO, Warrington did not get beaten in the ring, he gave the belt back to the IBF rather than face a rematch against “Kid Galahad”.

 Warrington fought “Kid Galahad” in front of his hometown crowd and judges in June 2019. Josh Warrington was the local matador, but he played the bull in the fight. “Kid Galahad” used wonderful footwork, switching to southpaw, and single punches from odd angles to shut down the offensive, volume punching style of “The Leeds Warrior”. Josh tried to attack, but “Kid” repeatedly side-stepped and let the bull pass him by.

“Kid Galahad” implemented his tactics and strategy with discipline and skill throughout the 12 rounds. In the end it was the hometown advantage that swung the points on the scorecards. With a gift of a win, Warrington accepted the split decision without apology. Jab Hook had it 116:112 for Abdul-Bari Awad.

It is embarrassing that Warrington gave up the belt to avoid “Kid Galahad”. Instead of defending like a champ, he chose to fight Mauricio Lara, who is ranked over 20 steps behind the IBF mandatory. Lara is a Mexican veteran and a very good boxer who has fought only once outside of Mexico, and that was in Argentina. This matchup in Wembley will be his first time under the big lights and his opponent is fighting at home.

Mauricio Lara is a handpicked, tough, Mexican fighter who will move forward in straight lines and make Warrington look good. Leed’s favorite son will counterpunches smartly, smile for the judges, and relax as he ignores his ring rust. Warrington knows he has a hometown advantage so wide that Lara will need a KO to get a draw.

Jab Hook's prediction: Josh Warrington enjoys the evening and takes almost every round on the local judges’ cards. Mauricio Lara loses by unanimous decision.

Please check back for Jab Hook's Epilogue to Wembley Arena, London, UK, Saturday, February 13th, 2021.

“Jab Hook” is an independent boxing analyst and writer, a commentator on DAZN.de, and a licensed referee and judge in amateur boxing. Born in Brooklyn and living in Munich, “The Sweet Science” is his passion.