By: Sean Crose
“It was a very tough fight,” IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington said ahead of his title defense against Luis Alberto Lopez on Saturday in England. “Luis, he’s very confident, isn’t he? He’s like a kid walking around like Ric Flair. He will be filled with confidence. He’s taken down a few guys in the US and Mexico but I’m not one of those guys. Warrington 31-1-1 has held the IBF belt since stopping Kiko Martinez last March. This will be his first title defense, although he previously held the IBF belt for several years before being stopped by Mauricio Lara in 2021 (suffice to say he fought Lara to draw a draw. in the rematch).
“I’ve been in this position my whole career,” Warrington said during the fight week press conference. “I have no intention to get this position. I have no intention of winning the European title, I have no intention of winning the world title. I’ve always been the underdog.” Although he goes into this weekend’s game with confidence, Warrington still feels 26-2 Lopez needs to be taken seriously. “Any fight at this level will always be an uphill fight,” he said, “because he’s put himself in the required position. He’s beaten some good guys along the way but I don’t think he’s on the same level that I’ve met. He certainly doesn’t have a fight like me.
Needless to say, Warrington is delighted to be fighting in front of the hometown crowd in Leeds this weekend. “He’s going into Lion’s Den,” the 32-year-old said of the Lopez challenger. “They couldn’t be in the ring with me, but it was——a horrible atmosphere! I eat that energy. When I walked out into that arena, I was a possessed man and did what I had to do to keep that belt. Was I here? Many of these young warriors will be filled with confidence. They will be very excited. I think they forgot, sometimes my name doesn’t get the respect it deserves. I’m not asking for it, but I’ve faced challengers throughout my career. I just need to focus on what I do best and I believe it will be enough to help me win Saturday night.”
The Warrington-Lopez match will be broadcast live in the United States on Saturday DAZN starting at 4 p.m. ET.
