Josh Warrington’s quest to gain The Ring Magazine title

Credit: Clive Griffin / Flickr Images

Unbeaten featherweight Josh Warrington looks to beat Mauricio Lara in an attempt to fight for The Ring Magazine title in the upcoming months.

Leeds-born Josh Warrington will go into the fight the strong favourite but by no means will it be an easy affair against a young Mexican fighter with a favourable record in Mauricio Lara. The 22-year-old from Mexico City comes to London with a strong professional record of 21 wins and 2 losses. 14 of his 21 wins have come by way of knockout, which reinstates the message that the Yorkshireman cannot afford to look past this fight before he has won it.

The fight at Wembley’s SSE Arena comes as almost a warm-up for one of the potential fights of the year later in 2021. Warrington will look to fight WBA champion Xu Can or Gary Russel, holder of the WBC belt. Both of these will involve The Ring Magazine belt, which Warrington is so desperate to get his hands on.

Matchroom Sport Managing Director Eddie Hearn has said  “It’s so important for Josh to be in a mega-fight after Lara on February 13.”

“He has his heart set on the Ring belt and it’s up to us to make the Can or Russell fights for April or early May.”

The mega-fight against Can or Russel is the main priority for Warrington this year in an attempt to go down as one of the best featherweights the UK has seen, but he must win against Mexican prospect Mauricio Lara.

With this being Lara’s first fight outside of South America, he’s expected to come out fearless but respectful against a well-equipped Warrington. Lara evidently has power as seen in his previous fights and it will be fascinating to see whether or not he can hurt Warrington and make him uncomfortable in the ring. If Lara does win it will be likely an all Mexican title fight will be the next on the cards for him. This proves to be a massive incentive for him.

These fights are very easy to lose for Warrington when your head isn’t in the right place, especially after so long out of the ring. Although I am sure if he remains concentrated throughout he will come out on top to defeat him.

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