Challenger Luis Alberto Lopez (27-2, 15 KOs) appeared sensational on Saturday night time, education IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington (31-2-1, 8 KOs) in successful a 12 spherical majority resolution on the First Direct Area in Leeds, England.
The 29-year-old Lopez overcame a reduce over his left eye from a headbutt from Warrington in spherical two to dethrone the IBF 126-lb champion in entrance of his personal followers.
In rounds one by way of 9, Lopez was masterful, connecting with main uppercuts, left hooks, and arduous jabs to demoralize the 32-year-old Warrington. Not one of the rounds had been shut, as Lopez related the cleaner, tougher punches and used his superior hand & foot pace to get the higher of the motion.
The judges scored 114-114, 115-113, and 115-113. Boxing 247 scored it for Lopez 117-111. Warrington ought to have been penalized for his punches to the again of the pinnacle, head clashes shouldering, and holding & hitting.
Lopez appeared to harm Warrington with a tough physique shot within the third spherical that despatched him retreating. The Mexican warrior then chased Warrington across the ring, nailing him with vicious head & physique photographs that had him holding on to get his wind again.
Within the fourth, Lopez landed lovely uppercuts from the skin. He would bend ahead and throw vicious uppercuts with good accuracy that snapped Warrington’s head again.
We noticed Lopez use this punch all through the competition, however he was more practical by way of the primary eight rounds. The fouling that Warrington did within the championship rounds appeared to get Lopez off his sport, as he getting hit with numerous blatant rabbit punches and getting head-butt.
🗣 “I am completely devastated” @J_Warrington reacts to his defeat tonight #WarringtonLopez pic.twitter.com/gFGkSDz8WM
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 10, 2022
Warrington took his roughhouse ways to a different degree within the final 4 rounds, roughing up Lopez nonstop with a witch’s brew of fouls with out the referee addressing the bending of the foundations.
With the referee doing nothing to cease Warrington’s unlawful ways, Lopez was on the market on his personal, pressured to maneuver & maintain to attempt to maintain from getting labored over.
It was an excellent efficiency from Lopez, dethroning Warrington to turn out to be the brand new IBF champion. If there’s a rematch, it might be a good suggestion to stage it in a impartial venue within the U.S. or one other nation. Lopez shouldn’t have to return again to the UK to struggle Warrington in entrance of his residence followers once more now that he’s the IBF champion.