JOSH WARRINGTON’S top boxing career came to an emotional end after he lost his third fight in a row.
The Leeds veteran was defeated by Anthony Cacace, whose IBF super-featherweight world title was banned after Warrington lost his previous two titles.
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And the veteran hinted his time in the ring is over as he put his gloves on the canvas before posing for a photo.
This went a long way, and the doting father of two little girls was very courageous indeed.
But he fell far short and – for the sake of his health and legacy – he felt it was time to retire after an illustrious career.
After a good fight between the two friends the judges gave the verdict: 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111.
The opener wasn’t clever, but it was par for the course.
The 33-year-old Yorkshireman adopted his distinctive Mexican style and came forward throwing hooks.
But Belfast player Cacace got hold of the ball and responded with a long right hand.
Warrington’s head was knocked back by the first shot but he was not hurt, Cacace’s thick beard was blown away by the left hook.
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The second player got up to speed early, Cacace played Warrington’s game up close and personal. Both players clashed, clinching and pulling away from each other as soon as they got an inch of space.
Caecce showed courage in disregarding his enormous physical strength – compared to his enemy he appeared to be of middleweight.
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The IBF champion had the fight stopped in the third round but he was always keen to get back to the contest where Warrington had the upper hand.
The two elite fighters squared off at the end of the third round – a curious symbol for the sport, as they had been giving each other a hard time for the previous nine minutes.
In the fourth round Warrington got greedy and jabbed at Cacace’s ribs with his fists until he lost sight of him and countered with open fists.
Waza was hurt and needed to recover but he quickly regained consciousness.
But with each passing punch and second, Cacace’s less frequent blows looked more punishing.
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Warrington was never an incisive puncher down the wing, so a move up was never going to help him add to his highlight reel.
The same thing happened in the fifth and sixth rounds, as Warrington, try as he might, could not destroy the hairy giant who towered over him and smashed leather into him whenever he got close.
It was competitive and exciting, but it was inevitable that Warrington were heading for a horrific hat-trick of defeats.
The only unknown was whether it would be a points defeat or a late stoppage.
The eighth and ninth rounds were tough to watch, not because Warrington was hurting, but because – as darkness fell over Wembley – we were watching the light of his career slowly fade out.
Three defeats in a row are tough to accept, even for a local legend who played to packed houses at Leeds Arena, Elland Road and Headingley in his heyday.
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The twelfth defeat couldn’t come soon enough – and then defeat it was. Warrington was a brilliant little destroyer, the dental technician turned world champion had to accept his fourth defeat in six bouts.
As usual, he tried to go out on his shield, but thankfully it ended with a good, fair clash and a big hug between the two brilliant giants before Warrington laid down his gloves for the final time.
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