Josh Warrington insists there will be no complacency when he challenges IBF world featherweight champion Kiko Martinez as he believes the clash is the key to unlocking his dream fights
- Josh Warrington will fight Kiko Martinez for the IBF featherweight title in March
- He will get a chance to win back the belt that he was forced to vacate last year
- Martinez won the belt in November with a stunning victory over Kid Galahad
- Warrington believes the clash will be key to unlocking bigger fights in the future
Josh Warrington insists there will be no complacency when he challenges IBF world featherweight champion Kiko Martinez in Leeds.
Warrington has already beaten Spaniard Martinez, by a majority decision in May 2017, and will face him again at the same First Direct Arena in his hometown on March 26.
The 31-year-old told the PA news agency: ‘I’ve got the fanbase and the profile, but you need the belt to put you firmly in the driving seat because when I win back this belt I want to go and win some more.
Warrington will have a second fight with Kiko Martinez for the IBF featherweight title
‘I can’t afford anything other than a win. I can’t afford not to hear the words “and the new…”, that just has to happen.
‘All my dreams about fighting the other champions in the States all goes out of the window if I don’t win. There will be no complacency.’
Martinez won the title in a big upset in November when knocking out Kid Galahad in the sixth round having been outclassed for most of their fight in Sheffield.
Warrington will get the chance to become a two-time world champion on March 26
Warrington became IBF world champion with a split-decision victory over Lee Selby at Elland Road in January 2018 and successfully defended his title on three occasions.
He vacated his belt in January last year after the IBF had refused to sanction a unification fight with China’s WBA champion Xu Can.
Warrington suffered his first career loss the following month in a non-title fight against the unheralded Mauricio Lara after over a year of inactivity.
The Yorkshireman’s last appearance was in a rematch against Lara at Headingley Stadium in September, which ended in a technical draw after the Mexican was cut above his left eye in an accidental clash of heads.
The Yorkshireman’s last appearance ended in a technical draw in a rematch with Mauricio Lara (right)
Warrington added: ‘The Martinez fight a massive opportunity for me to get back on top.
‘I lost a position of power when I got beaten by Lara last year. This gives me the key to unlocking even bigger fights.
‘Don’t get me wrong, this is a big fight. I’ve beaten Kiko before, so if I can get my old belt back it puts me in a position to target the likes of (WBO champion Emanuel) Navarrete, who just beat Gary Russell Jnr.
The Mexican was cut above his left eye in an accidental clash of heads at Headingley
‘There’s also Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan. This Martinez fight is the key to open all these doors.’
Mexico’s WBO champion Navarrete and WBC champion Mark Magsayo, from the Philippines, are currently ranked number one and two respectively by Ring Magazine, with Warrington fourth behind Lara and Martinez fifth.
Nottingham boxer Wood is scheduled to defend his WBA title in his hometown against Belfast’s Conlan on March 12.