Josh Warrington has signalled his retirement after leaving his gloves in the middle of the canvas following his convincing defeat to IBF super-featherweight champion Anthony Cacace inside Wembley Stadium. Warrington, 33, a former two-time world featherweight champion, lasted the distance but was defeated by his rival from Belfast 118-110, 117-111, 117-111 on the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois undercard.
It was Warrington’s third defeat in a row and the fourth of his professional boxing career. He was beaten by Leigh Wood and Luis Alberto Lopez in his prior two bouts before meeting Cacace in North London.
Warrington won the British, Commonwealth and European featherweight titles in 2013 and 14, starting his ascension to the top of the division. He then claimed his first world title in 2018 with a win over Lee Selby.
He successfully defended his world title three times, before losing to Mauricio Lara in 2021. That defeat came just a stone’s throw away from Wembley Stadium at Wembley Arena. He faced Lara in a rematch six months later, where the contest was stopped via advice from the ringside doctor after the champion sustained a cup over the left eye.
He reclaimed the IBF title the next year with a win over Kiko Martinez but his reign didn’t last long, being defeated by Lopez the Brit’s hometown of Leeds. Lopez overcame a nasty cut to his left eye to see two of the judges score in his favour.
Warrington already had an eye on what his life would look like after he retired from boxing. He’s moving into the promoting business. “Well a boxing career doesn’t last forever in terms of being a fighter,” Warrington told talkSPORT in the summer.
“I’m petrified of the day of retirement, but you have to start making plans for when it does come. I feel like I’ve seen enough contracts now, I’ve been in enough promotional and managerial meetings.
“I’d love to pass that knowledge on to the next generation and my manager Steve Wood is giving me a massive opportunity to be involved in the company.
“I took that opportunity with both hands and now I’m dabbling a bit with that. Steve’s a great manager and a great promoter. He took me from the small halls to arena shows. With my youthfulness I can assist alongside that.”
Fans have taken to social media to thank Warrington. “Sensational career, so many times the underdog but shone through any challenge,” one said. Another added: “Unbelievable career that he should be proud of – I used to think he was European level at best and he proved me wrong again and again.”
