Mauricio Lara defeats and knocks out Josh Warrington in a big shock

Mauricio Lara produced one of the biggest shocks in a British ring in years, by knocking out Josh Warrington in the ninth round at the SSE Arena in Wembley.

Warrington gave up the IBF featherweight title in his attempt to pursue big fights, but the whole conversation of Can Xu, Gary Russell Jr and Emanuel Navarette can be forgotten for now. Lara was supposed to be just an easy warm-up, but he made his way through Warrington.

It was a brutal night for Warrington, probably too brutal. He was brought down for the first time in the fourth round and never looked the same after that. Indeed, on a bad night for British officials, questions should be asked about referee Howard Foster’s decision to let him continue when he seemed unable to get up properly. After all, the referee’s first function is to protect the fighters. The same questions should be asked of your corner, led by parent coach Sean O’Hagan.

Warrington was flat. He tapped his gloves at the end of each round as if he were treating him like a stringer. But Lara took the chance. His style was basic, but effective. When Warrington played, he played back. When it landed, it had an impact. After the fourth round, Warrington was also an easy target.

It’s been 16 months since Warrington was in the ring and with none of his many Leeds fans to root for him, the night was billed and treated as one to spend. Giving up the world title so it now seems like a crazy decision. It was his first defeat in 31 fights.

He started well enough. Warrington wasted no time in getting stuck, hitting a right over the top and a left on the body when Lara appeared to be waiting for referee Foster to separate them. He then landed a good right which threw Lara backwards in a corner.

He was then warned for pulling Lara’s head down, but when Warrington attacked, Lara tried to match him. He had some success, but was cut in the right eye with just two minutes of fighting. Still, there were signs that Warrington might be in trouble.

Warrington opened more in the second, hitting a good burst, but the punches seemed to bounce off Lara as he bounced at every opportunity and found his way through Warrington’s guard.

The former IBF champion looked slow, but holding on, but in the middle of the fourth round, he was caught clean by a large left hook Lara and staggered back through the ring. Lara was right about him, opening up, but instead of covering up, Warrington tried to punch him back with unsteady legs.

After Warrington managed to grab, Lara measured him with a perfect left hook that dropped him on his side. He won the count, but his legs were unstable when he stood up. Foster motioned for him to return and Lara landed again as Warrington stumbled around the ring, catching him with punch after punch. He looked at his feet when the bell rang.

At the start of the fifth round, Warrington still looked in bad shape, but he changed and at least hit with a good left hook. At the last minute of the round, his head seemed to clear up, although he still looked unsteady on his feet.

But while Warrington was still trying to cover, Lara kept moving forward. Lara was looking scarred around his face, but he was landing on his body and head. Warrington was giving way, but Lara was always in his face.

Rounds six and seven were more of the same, Warrington doing his best, but getting caught by heavier punches. At the end of the seventh, another left hook seemed to hurt Warrington. The Leeds fighter went on the attack again on the eighth, but another left hook straightened him and Lara followed with another left hook. Lara was also falling well for the body and at the end of the round it looked like he had nothing left.

He was sent again for the ninth round, however, and Warrington was swung by a right, which was quickly followed by an even bigger left hook. Foster hovered, but Lara landed three more left hooks, the last of which sent Warrington backwards, Foster finally waved without counting at 0:54 of the ninth round.

Warrington tried to get up, but the paramedics rushed to the ring and gave him oxygen while he was lying on his back. He soon got up, sat on his stool and left the ring after congratulating Lara.

“It was a great night, I am very happy for my family and for all the people at home in Mexico,” said Lara. “We worked hard for it and it worked as we planned.”