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Leeds United fans packed the First Direct Arena in Leeds and saw Josh Warrington dispose of Sofiane Takoucht in the 2nd round by TKO.
#ANDSTILL! Congratulations to the Leeds Warrior @J_Warrington on defending his world title for the third time! pic.twitter.com/waJyzRaYMI
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 12, 2019
Warrington was accompanied by bagpipes for his entrance, before going into his usual run of Marching on Together, followed by I predict a riot by the Kaiser Chiefs. On this occasion, he was accompanied to the ring by Pablo Hernandez holding the belt aloft - Following on from Lucas Radebe, Liam Cooper, and Gaetano Berardi in previous fights.
Warrington won the 1st round 10-9 before unleashing in the 2nd round. Knocking his French opponent down twice with big right hands before the referee was forced to stop the contest towards the end of the second round.
Nice work @J_Warrington! Flying the flag for our club and city!
— The Square Ball (@TheSquareBall) October 12, 2019
Warrington needed an impressive, comfortable win having had troubles in his previous fight with Sheffield’s Kid Galahad - and that is exactly what he produced.
Post match, Warrington said on BT Sport: “It shows what we have been working on has worked. The last fight gave us all a wake up call. We worked on southpaws for the last 11 weeks and it paid off.”
3️⃣0️⃣-0️⃣ WHAT A FEELING WHO’S NEXT!? NO HIDING THIS TIME pic.twitter.com/oYLZz8ZNWb
— Josh Warrington (@J_Warrington) October 12, 2019
He also gave an indication as to his future plans: ”I have made it very clear. I am open to any of them. Gary Russell Jr is kicking about. Shakur Stevenson could be fighting for the WBO. I am leaving my options open.
”Obviously Gary Russell Jr only comes out once a year. If (WBO Champion) Xu Can wants the fight here I am.
”Everyone has their passports at the ready. In 2020 we are coming for you all.”
. @ShakurStevenson will become WBO champion in 2 weeks. @J_Warrington vs Him in Vegas or New York to unify this division is the fight to make. #WarringtonTakoucht
— Adam Catterall (@AdamCatterall) October 12, 2019
Promoter Frank Warren seemed to push the unification fight with Xu Can in his post-fight interview, saying to BT Sport: “We will sit down in the next couple of weeks. We are looking to see this guy Xu Can.
”Let’s see the outcome of his next fight and we might be able to get that over the line.
”He wants a unification fight. People have avoided him there’s no doubt about it. Look at the support he has. He brings finance to a show and should be a no brainer.”
Fancy a unification at Elland Road now @J_Warrington
— Tom Adlington (@Tom_Adlington) October 12, 2019
The biggest news for Leeds fans is that Josh Warrington also said he would love the unification fight to be at Elland Road - the site where he won the belt from Lee Selby - that would be something for the fans to get their teeth into.
Well done Josh Warrington (@J_Warrington), great ot have one of our own as World Champion.