Josh Warrington completed a third defence of his International Boxing Federation world featherweight title with a second-round stoppage victory over Frenchman Sofiane Takoucht in Leeds and put every rival on notice that he will pursue them for unification contests next year.
Warrington has now won all 30 of his fights, with this a seventh knockout. “People say I can’t punch [because of that record],” he bellowed in victory. “So let’s test it. I took my frustration in not getting a unification bout out on Takoucht.”
Warrington had pledged that he wanted a US fight against the other world champions after a past year in which he proved his world-class qualities with a triumph over Lee Selby to claim the belt, before defending against Carl Frampton.
“I have made it very clear I am open to any of them,” said Warrington. “Gary Russell Jnr is kicking about. Shakur Stevenson could be fighting for the WBO [World Boxing Organistion] title. If Xu Can [a World Boxing Association champion] wants the fight, here I am.”
Warrington is expected to fight again next May, with promoter Frank Warren looking to bring one of the major names back to Elland Road. If not, Warrington is prepared to go on the road to fight.
Elsewhere, 27-year-old junior middleweight Patrick Day was in a coma in Chicago on Sunday following emergency brain surgery after being knocked out in the 10th round by Charles Conwell.
Day was down in the fourth and eighth rounds before being knocked out in the 10th. He had medical attention in the ring, was carried to the ambulance and was reported to have had a seizure en route to hospital and placed into a medical coma.
Former undisputed cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk marked his heavyweight debut with a seventh-round knockout of Chazz Witherspoon.