Josh Warrington changes his mind on retirement

The R-word is on Josh Warrington’s mind.

It’s not a rematch or revenge.

Former champion Warrington lives for that.

Retirement.

“It” seemed likely.

After losing his fourth career fight and third in a row, Warrington left his gloves in the center of the ring.

Was he done?

For a while, yes.

Warrington had gone 12 crisp rounds with IBF super featherweight champion Anthony Cacace last September – losing by decision.

“I laid my gloves down in the ring, [but] it felt like a rash decision,” Warrington told DAZN last week. “I thought, with my frustrations that I couldn’t get going [in the fight], that maybe it’s not there.

“After analyzing it and watching back with my team, I still think there’s enough there to compete at the highest level and to win as well. Physically, I feel good.”

Things changed dramatically for Warrington in 2021 when he faced little-known but dangerous Mauricio Lara at Wembley Arena in Leeds, England.

His IBF world title won in 2018, was not on the line. Warrington had defended his crown three times. He had surprised many by handily defeating former champion Carl Frampton.

The fight with Lara was called a stay busy fight.

Warrington has made the most of his boxing talent. He’s not the hardest puncher but can be a buzzsaw of activity.

But not against Lara. Warrington lacked his usual fire. Lara’s advantage in power was evident. He floored Warrington in round four and knocked him out five rounds later.

Warrington fought Lara again seven months later. He wanted his payback, but his head got in the way. The opening stanza was close, with both fighters connecting, but an accidental head clash ended matters early.

Disappointed but determined, Warrington returned less than five months later to face IBF champion Kiko Martinez – a fighter he had defeated five years before. Warrington floored Martinez in the opening round. The blood was flowing when Warrington, ignoring a broken jaw, halted Martinez in round seven.

He lost his title seven months later to Luis Alberto Lopez.

A grudge match against Leigh Wood went down next.

Wood had done what Warrington couldn’t, defeating Lara in a rematch. The Mexican had knocked him silly, but Wood boxed his ears off in the sequel.

Warrington looked like his old self against Wood. He was faster and boxing efficiently. In comparison, Wood looked ragged, but there’s never any quit in the Nottingham battler. Behind on the scorecards, he clipped Warrington with a wicked combination – sending the Leeds man to the canvas. Warrington beat the count, but the referee controversially stopped the fight.

Gutted, Warrington stayed away from boxing for a while, but a chance to win a third-world title was too tempting.

“I feel that if my mental side had been good [against Cacace], it might have been a different outcome. I can’t complain about it, because what has happened has happened.”

So at 34, he’s back. Young in life, sometimes old in the ring, with the damn R-word niggling at him.