Via Barry Holbrook: IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington feels that Luis Alberto Lopez has shown signs of self-doubt with concerns about his headbutt against their opponent on DAZN this Saturday night at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.
Given what happened in Warrington’s last two games, with his opponents heavily slashed from head-on collisions, it’s understandable that Lopez (26-2, 15 KOs) worried that he would suffer the same fate on Saturday night.
Kiko Martinez was slashed three times during a match against Warrington last March, cuts in both eyes and on his forehead. Warrington (31-1-1, 8 KOs) finally stopped the bleeding Kiko in the seventh round in a match in Leeds.
Josh discusses his head bumps
“I think the Americans will probably come out of the war with Lara and probably break my jaw last time. It was just a punch that seemed to do damage in my last fight,” Warrington said ID Boxing about his last game against Kiko Martinez in March.
“I have been in a few battles where cuts have occurred,‘ Warrington said in response to Lopez’s concerns about the bumps to his head. “If you have a fighter who is always looking forward, things will happen.
“Mauricio Lara made a big son and danced about it. Too the fighter moves forward, it happens. It’s like when you have a style clash between southerners and mainstream, it happens. The thing is, now I’ve been labeled like I was doing it on purpose.
“I lowered my head and crouched down. It was a war. There are times when you are close and your heads rub together. That’s what it is. He needs to stop whining and focus on what you’re doing. I feel like he’s a bit doubting himself with that.
Will Warrington retire if he loses?
“I will never ignore someone again like I did with Mauricio Lara. I have full confidence that I will win by the end of the week. This could be the last one,” Warrington said.
Warrington said of Luis Lopez: “He was wild, he punched from the floor and every punch he threw he was trying to knock you out. “That takes a lot of energy.
“They’re quick to assume I’m old and have had better days, but physically I’m at my peak. Mentally, I’m more focused than ever.”
