BoxRec

Josh Warrington To Return Feb. 13; Xu Can Title Unification Bout Eyed For Springtime

Josh Warrington's 2021 campaign will include a showdown with Xu Can, just not in his very next fight.

An announcement in the coming days from Matchroom Boxing will include the unbeaten IBF featherweight champ as part of its first quarter schedule, though no longer in a title unification bout, promoter Eddie Hearn informed Boxing Scene on Wednesday. Warrington will remain the main event slot of a February 13 show which leads a loaded schedule in the weeks to come.

“We’ve been working hard with Robert Diaz and Golden Boy to get this fight made but we are going to have to wait a little longer,” Hearn told Boxing Scene.

An opponent for Warrington is expected to be finalized in time for Matchroom’s UK schedule reveal on Friday.

Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) has not fought since a 2nd round wipeout of Sofiane Takoucht atop an Oct. 2019 show in his hometown of Leeds, England. The long-reigning featherweight titlist has since signed with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing outfit, with his intended debut to have come in a two-belt unification clash with China’s Xu (18-2, 3 KOs) only for such plans to be delayed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

While the sport as a whole has since resumed, the ability to stage events in front of live crowds remains an issue. Just one such show has taken place in the United Kingdom, with unified heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua scoring a 9th round knockout of Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev with fans in attendance in their Dec. 12th clash at SSE Arena, Wembley.

Another lockdown has since come in the U.K., wiping out all scheduled bouts in January. The British Boxing Board of Control has since declared that boxing events can resume beginning in mid-February, prompting Matchroom to put its best foot forward in delivering a block of shows.

A fight between Warrington and Xu was intended to lead things off but will instead move towards Matchroom’s springtime schedule. The slight delay should work in favor of the fight becoming an event, given Warrington’s massive drawing power in his home region.

“After we brought fans back in December, we hoped we would be in a position to have attendance for this fight and it deserves it,” notes Hearn. “After a long layoff Josh will still return on Feb 13 and if victorious will hopefully face Xu in April or early May.”

Warrington has won the IBF featherweight title following a 12-round decision over Lee Selby in front of a sold-out hometown crowd at Elland Road Football Ground in Leeds. Three defenses have followed, most notably a competitive but clear 12-round nod over former two-division titlist Carl Frampton in Dec. 2018. The win was followed by a hard-fought split decision victory over unbeaten Kid Galahad in June 2019 before proceeding to stop Takoucht inside of two rounds later that October.

We find out tomorrow who he's fighting..

Latest IBF Rankings (Dec 20)

1 Kid Galahad Qatar
2 NOT RATED
3 James Dickens England
4 Mark Magsayo Philippines
5 Andoni Gago Spain
6 Brock Jarvis Australia
7 Michael Conlan Northern Ireland
8 Hiroshige Osawa Japan
9 Ryan Walsh England
10 Jose Lopez-Vargas Mexico
11 Ryo Sagawa Japan
12 Reiya Abe Japan
13 Isaac Lowe England
14 isaac Avelar Mexico
15 Ryo Matsumoto Japan

he should maybe deal with Galahad again. get it out the way. it's not like its a damaging fight, and i'd imagine he'd do him easier second time. Granted no fornicator wants to see it again lol

Makes sense to get the mandatory out the way and fight kid again. I'm sure that's due by the end of Feb. If not him my guess wud b dickens.

Isaac Lowe has been fighting on all Fury undercards..

Maybe JW should give him a crack.

TBH he'll probably fight someone not even ranked there..

Dickens wouldn't surprise me following his Golden Contract success and the issues surrounding travel at the moment.

I was looking forward to the Xu fight. The top 15 is quite uninspiring.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑14 Jan 2021, 06:24 Isaac Lowe has been fighting on all Fury undercards..

Maybe JW should give him a crack.

TBH he'll probably fight someone not even ranked there..

Lowe has been a cheerleader to fury and imo its held him back. His got rankings if different orgs but when u look thru his record he doesn't have any standout wins.
I'm sure he and warrington have sparred alot in the past so they will know each other very well

maley1984 wrote: ↑14 Jan 2021, 06:39

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑14 Jan 2021, 06:24 Isaac Lowe has been fighting on all Fury undercards..

Maybe JW should give him a crack.

TBH he'll probably fight someone not even ranked there..

Lowe has been a cheerleader to fury and imo its held him back. His got rankings if different orgs but when u look thru his record he doesn't have any standout wins.
I'm sure he and warrington have sparred alot in the past so they will know each other very well

He was scheduled to rematch Ryan Walsh on a Matchroom show I believe. That's when he jumped on Fury's balls. Pulled out of the rematch and he's really not done anything since TBH..

maverick23 wrote: ↑14 Jan 2021, 06:34 I was looking forward to the Xu fight. The top 15 is quite uninspiring.

That's the IBF for ya.

Total rubbish. Tyson and Lowe have been best friends for years. No jumping on each other’s balls. They’re close.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑14 Jan 2021, 07:55 Total rubbish. Tyson and Lowe have been best friends for years. No jumping on each other’s balls. They’re close.

I know they've always been close, but he wasn't always on his cards was he?
or was he?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑14 Jan 2021, 08:12

mickey1975 wrote: ↑14 Jan 2021, 07:55 Total rubbish. Tyson and Lowe have been best friends for years. No jumping on each other’s balls. They’re close.

I know they've always been close, but he wasn't always on his cards was he?
or was he?

Tyson probably couldn’t dictate in the early days.

Decent undercard.

But this Lara dude wasn’t even in the top 15 of IBF.

WARRINGTON vs. LARA

Matchroom’s 2021 schedule launches with a bang on Saturday, February 13. Josh Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) faces Mexico’s Mauricio Lara (21-2, 14 KOs) as he waits for a huge fight later in the year.

Manchester Super-Featherweight contender Zelfa Barrett (24-1, 15 KOs) defends his IBF Intercontinental Title against Spain’s former Super-Bantamweight World Champion Kiko Martinez (41-9-2, 29 KOs) in the chief support bout.

Nottingham’s Leigh Wood (23-2, 13 KOs) clashes with unbeaten Doncaster man Reece Mould (13-0, 6 KOs) for the vacant British Featherweight Title.

Fast-rising Sheffield Super-Lightweight talent Dalton Smith (6-0, 5 KOs) takes on Rotherham’s Lee Appleyard (16-5-1, 5 KOs).

Leeds Featherweight Hopey Price (3-0, 1 KO) looks to build on his win over Jonny Phillips at Fight Camp last summer.

Really good undercard but disappointing main event.

Lara’s record suggests an easy win for Warrington.

maverick23 wrote: ↑16 Jan 2021, 05:44 Really good undercard but disappointing main event.

Lara’s record suggests an easy win for Warrington.

Just like the last guy he fought.

Disappointed with the warrington fight. Thought it wud be dickens. Also the barrett fight is a joke. Kiko a super ban who moved up and did ok at feather but surely their is a fully blown super feather who barrett cud of fought.

Matchroom Sport Managing Director Eddie Hearn said: “Even in a pandemic I feel like this is the strongest start to a year Matchroom have had in a long time. It’s going to be a rough ride over the next couple of months but with plenty of drama and excitement along the way. We have some thrilling main events and stacked cards that feature some of the biggest names in British boxing return to action as we look to make a real statement in 2021.”

Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development for Sky Sports, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with our strongest start to a New Year as we bring you more of the biggest names in British boxing.

“The hugely popular Josh Warrington kicks off our first live show on Sky Sports against Mauricio Lara, with a unification clash in touching distance.

“Josh Kelly settles his long-running rivalry with David Avanesyan, while Amy Timlin and Carly Skelly share the ring again on the same bill after battling to a draw.

“Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin delivered one of the most dramatic Heavyweight fights of last year and we’re expecting more fireworks in their rematch, with Campbell Hatton also making his pro debut, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

“Lawrence Okolie finally receives his World Title fight against Krzysztof Glowacki on another exciting night that features Ramla Ali’s return and Chantelle Cameron’s first defence of her WBC belt.

“It’s then Conor Benn’s turn to take centre stage in a crucial showdown with Samuel Vargas. Boxing is back in 2021, so get ready for more epic fights on Sky Sports.”

DAZN EVP Joseph Markowski said: “From a Heavyweight rematch to championship fights to a highly anticipated pro debut, the early 2021 schedule from Matchroom has a little bit of everything and we look forward to delivering these events to fans around the world on DAZN.”

Xu Can top 5 on boxrec!! i thought boxrec ratings meant so much to you barry bruhs

There’s a mistake on Barry’s Twitter. It says he’s undefeated.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑16 Jan 2021, 20:48 There’s a mistake on Barry’s Twitter. It says he’s undefeated.

Not had time to update lol