Josh Warrington provides a flawless screen to send Kiko Martinez

Saturday to midnight in Leeds, Josh Warrington he started a boxing party that cost him broken jaws, injured left arms and freed nearly 12,000 people who danced in the streets.

Warrington also regained the IBF featherweight title and left Spaniard Kik Martinez, stained with blood from cuts and in the arms of Judge Marcus McDonnell, after 2:12 of the seventh round. It was a flawless portrayal of Warrington in the struggle of his life.

Leeds ’fighting son is an old-fashioned boxing hero in a city of old-fashioned sports icons; Saturday’s fight had enough blood, courage, and raw emotions to send everyone home happy. It was the kind of fight that made all the witnesses exhausted, and those close enough to the ring are covered in a slight blood mist. Kik’s blood flowed dark, heavy, and free, and he never moaned.

A wild quarrel occurred against the huge and majestic plate of steep seats at First Direct Arena in Warrington’s Leeds; it formed a terrifying, ever-moving sound wall with nearly 12,000 fans singing their anthem terraces, even at the bloody conclusion of the fight. Warrington fights for them, they love him; everyone in Leeds has a story about Josh, the moment their lives mingled with his life. He is their idol on demand and this role is meant for sacrifice.

“He still wanted to fight,” Warrington told me at the end of the ring. “He’s so tough.” Warrington uttered a few words through clenched teeth, some of his last words before the X-ray confirmed a clear fracture of the jawbone.

The measure of Warrington’s fighting spirit of heart and soul is that he praised Martinez for his role in the drama. Martinez was severely omitted in the first case, cut several times – often for loose work with Warrington’s head – and severely beaten. It was a dirty fight in parts, with both playing innocent when checked.

“He hurt me right at the end, he really hurt me,” Warrington continued. Yes, that was clear from the ring.

It was Martinez’s brave last match, short, last and desperate just Kiko in the final seconds of a very public lost goal. Warrington responded with perhaps 30 punches, leaving the bloodied referee with no choice but to jump and stop him. The drama was until the very bitter end, the last night in a series of unforgettable boxing evenings.

The victory ended in just over a year of pain and suffering for Warrington; victory was the most important in his career, a key part of any glorious future. The defeat was too dark to even think about – Warrington with its fans and heart was under tremendous pressure.

“I’ve always imagined an American fight and” – with a swing of a tied fist against a wall of fans – “took everyone on a journey.” It’s possible to fight in Las Vegas, and it’s also possible to travel to Nottingham’s City Ground to fight WBA champion Leigh Wood. His jaw and arm must be healed first. Warrington suffered a lot of injuries in his career and there certainly weren’t that many beautiful nights left; his heart will take him where his body should not travel, and the key is to stop him in the fight before that journey.

The wood was next to the ring and as elegant as ever. “This night is not for me, it’s about Josh – let’s see what happens; let him celebrate now, ”he said. The couple touched their hands, somewhere between distress and gentle respect. There should be no circus hysteria on Saturday in Leeds.

Warrington began with reason against Martinez, cautious and clever; The pair met in 12 rounds in 2017 and Warrington won by a close decision and suffered for weeks.

On Saturday, the opening round soon changed, Warrington injured Martinez, the crowd screamed and 38 seconds to go, Martinez lost heavily. He survived and landed two late, late lightning beside and after the bell. It was bedlam: we quarreled.

Kiko was injured in the second, cut into almost every round, and each round began with large drops of treated Vaseline smeared across his eyebrows and forehead. His left ear was reddish red from Warrington’s right hand and twice the size of his right ear; Warrington beat him, but Kiko was still there, still screaming, bleeding, and hitting.

“I hit him, I wounded him, but he never stopped coming – he wanted to fight in the end,” Warrington added. All great fights must end with respect for the boxers.

Kiko Martinez has now fought 56 ​​times and is probably the best Spanish fighter. He now earns his living away from the ring on his ranch in Alicante with his dancing horses and his family. He did his thing, believe me.

It ended in the seventh. It was a relief and a joy. And the fun began.