Josh Warrington reveals extent of injuries suffered in brutal defeat to Mauricio Lara

JOSH Warrington is planning to take some time away from boxing following his shock defeat to Mauricio Lara but has vowed to come back stronger as he still has his sights set on more world titles.
KNOCKOUT: Josh Warrington crashes to the canvas. Picture: Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing.KNOCKOUT: Josh Warrington crashes to the canvas. Picture: Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing.
KNOCKOUT: Josh Warrington crashes to the canvas. Picture: Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing.

The Leeds Warrior was knocked down and knocked out for the first time in his professional career by the hard-hitting 22-year-old Mexican at Wembley Arena.

He was taken to hospital after being knocked out in the ninth round, with his pro’ record now standing at 30-1.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His brain scans came back clear but the Leeds-born fighter did sustain a fractured jaw along with a perforated eardrum and damage to his shoulder.

It was Warrington’s first fight since October 2019 but he had not stopped training for 16 months. He trains in a private gym, allowing him to keep active during national lockdowns.

“I have a little bit of a fracture on my jaw,” he revealed in a YouTube video.

“I should have boxed and made it clever. I should have stuck to the boxing and made it easier for myself. I got drawn into the fight in the first round and got caught a few times after.”

He continued: “We will take some time off now.

PROMOTER: Eddie Hearn. Picture: Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing.PROMOTER: Eddie Hearn. Picture: Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing.
PROMOTER: Eddie Hearn. Picture: Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve not been in the ring for 15 months but we haven’t stopped training while waiting for a date. I think that’s been difficult. But I’ll enjoy time off, rest up, get back on it and go again.

“I still feel I have what it takes to achieve those dreams and goals. I 100 per cent believe that.

“I’ve still got a few years to do. One of them where you look back and it’s a little bit of a bump in the road but it happens to the best of us and it will probably give me more motivation to come back stronger.”

He added: “Credit to Lara, he seized the opportunity.”

Warrington was rocked by a brutal shot in the fourth round but got up from the canvas to narrowly survive the referee’s count. His legs were wobbling as the count was being made but he managed to get to the end of the round.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He rejected suggestions that his father and trainer, Sean O’Hagan, should have withdrawn him before he was knocked out by Lara in the ninth.

Warrington’s promoter Eddie Hearn spoke with the Leeds fighter after the contest and believed the Leeds Warrior had suffered a concussion.

There is the option for a rematch with Lara and Hearn has vowed that the former IBF world champion will be back after he recovers.

Hearn told IFL TV: “He couldn’t believe what had happened.

“You could tell he was concussed. He has to rest. We told him and the British Boxing Board of Control told him he must go to hospital. He will be back. It’s going to take him a while as it was a brutal fight.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“If there’s a rematch it will be epic. Right now it’s about making sure he’s fit, safe and healthy so he can recover.”

Warrington was back in Leeds on Sunday to celebrate the third birthday of his twin daughters.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.