Josh Warrington regains featherweight world title after stopping Kiko Martinez

Josh Warrington became a two-time world champion after stopping Spain’s Kiko Martinez in round seven in Leeds to regain the IBF featherweight title.

Warrington, 31, reclaimed the same IBF crown he lost 14 months ago in thrilling fashion, blitzing a tough and durable defending champion to the delight of a partisan, sell-out crowd at the First Direct Arena.

Martinez, who somehow survived a first-round knockdown and was badly cut above his left eye, came under a barrage of heavy punches in the seventh and the referee stopped the contest two minutes and 12 seconds into the round.

Warrington proved his critics wrong with a whirlwind display in front of his raucous army of fans, catapulting back to the top of his weight division and putting a wretched 2021 behind him in style.

‘The Leeds Warrior’ launched a ferocious assault on Martinez from the opening bell.

A vicious right hook landed flush on Martinez’s chin and sent him to the canvas. He rose to his feet after a count of eight before a cut opened up above his left eye, close to his nose.

The defending champion came under serious pressure in the second round as the Leeds crowd roared Warrington on to what they hoped would be an early victory.

But Martinez proved he is as tough as a walnut. He weathered the storm and looked to get back in the fight as Warrington eased off the pedal.

Warrington had his opponent on the ropes again in the fourth round and a series of pumping rights in the fifth cranked the arena back up to full volume.

Martinez was slow to come out for the sixth as his cut eye was tended to and ended the round nodding in appreciation after being caught by another ramrod right at the end of it.

Warrington sensed it was his time and hurled himself at the Spaniard