Josh Warrington a champion again, stops Kiko Martinez

Fighting for his career, Josh Warrington regained his IBF featherweight title with a dominant victory over gutsy Kiko Martinez at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England Saturday night. 

The end came at 2:12 minutes into round seven.

In round one, former champion and hometown hero Warrington (31-1-1, 8 KOs) went to work. He jabbed and scored. Cinderella Man Martinez (43-11-2, 30 KOs) pressed forward and went to the body. Warrington forced Martinez into the ropes and worked him over. An overhand right sent Martinez to the canvas. The defending champion pulled himself up and absorbed many shots to the end of the round. 

Warrington,31, unloaded shots in round two. He wanted the knockout. Combinations bounced off the chin of Martinez who was bleeding from a cut over his left eye. Martinez fought back but Warrington scored with sharp blows. Martinez wobbled to his corner at the bell. Warrington moved to his left in round three. Martinez chased, but he was a step behind. Warring kept jabbing. Martinez landed a good shot to the gut. 

A Warrington right stumbled Martinez in round four who continued to bleed, his 36-year-old legs looking weak, but there was no quit. Warrington worked him over. Martinez jabbed and fired a right to the hip. Warrington landed clubbing rights. Warrington kept up the attack in round five. A one-two lan89ded flush. Martinez was desperate to land his right. Instead it was Warrington who landed. 

In round six, Martinez attempted to up the ante. He fired rights. One landed. Warrington slipped away and stuck to boxing. His jab scored, followed by several rights. Unofficially, Warrington had banked the first six rounds. Martinez jogged into a big right in round seven. Warrington followed up with blows. Martinez fired a powerful right that Warrington absorbed. Seconds later, as if annoyed, he unloaded hooks that hurt Martinez.

He kept punching until the referee stepped in and stopped the contest.