Josh Warrington done with IBF and Kid Galahad in search for big fights

Josh Warrington goes in-depth about why he relinquished his IBF featherweight title ahead of his Saturday, Feb. 13 bout against Mauricio Lara. 

Josh Warrington surprised some people in late January when he vacated his IBF featherweight title, but he had clear reasons for making that decision.

Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) won the IBF title in 2018 after a fantastic performance against Lee Selby. He defended his title three times, including his dominant round 2 TKO of Sofiane Takoucht. He hasn’t fought since because of COVID-19 and a string of bad luck and unwilling opponents.

Warrington was looking forward to fighting  Can Xu in February but was blindsided when Xu pulled out of the fight.

“The IBF belt was still on the line, The Ring Magazine belt was still on the line,” Warrington told Sky Sports News in January. “The guy was getting a career-best payday, so I just can’t understand the reason for it not happening.”

Mauricio Lara (21-2,14 KOs) took Xu’s spot, but there was still more drama on the horizon. He vacated his IBF belt after being pressured by the organization to have a mandatory defense against Kid Galahad next.

Warrington and Galahad have a history. They fought numerous times as amateurs and once as professionals back in 2019. Warrington defeated Galahad by split decision and owned all the wins when they met as amateurs.

Josh Warrington is on the hunt for a major boxing bout and was willing to leave his IBF title behind to get it

During a press conference for his fight with Lara, FanSided asked Warrington if he relinquished his title more in protest of the IBF’s demands or because he thought a rematch with Galahad was a waste of his time. According to Warrington, it’s a little bit of both.

“Probably the latter,” Warrington told FanSided. “I think that combines with the first answer as well. It’s a bit frustrating with the politics, but in the same breath, I’ve beaten him [Kid Galahad] three times. Only once as a professional, but I’ve beaten him three times altogether, amateur and pro.”

Warrington feels like he proved that he’s a better boxer than Galahad numerous times, so why do it again? He has been chasing a fight against WBC champion Gary Russell Jr. for a while and seems open to fighting any of the titleholders.

“My career isn’t going to be about Barry and Kid Galahad, nor is it going to be about Lee Selby or Carl Frampton,” said Warrington. “There’s a lot of names out there that I keep on saying I want to add to my resumé. Your Gary Russell’s. Your Can Xu’s. Your Navarrete’s. All massive fights out there.”

Warrington added, “You love boxing, and all you want to see is big fights. It’s not as normal, especially in this pandemic. We normally only fight twice a year. In them fights, I don’t want to be having f**king special coming ons and steady defenses. Nevermind all that stuff. Get me in the big fights. If I could have it my own way, I would have Can Xu in the next one. After that, Gary Russell Jr. Keep having these big fights while the momentum is there while still in my prime years.”

Warrington is emphatic about having big fights in 2021. Lara isn’t a big name and shouldn’t give him a problem. It will be interesting to see who comes next for Warrington.

Watch Josh Warrington vs. Mauricio Lara on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. ET on DAZN.