JOSH WARRINGTON will be contemplating his next move after his heartbreak at the weekend.
The Leeds boxer saw his shot at revenge against Mauricio Lara cruelly cut short when the Mexican suffered a horror cut after a clash of heads.
The fight was stopped at the end of the second round and scored as a technical draw.
And although early days, Warrington looked much more like himself than when he was KO’d by Lara six months earlier.
With Lara now needing months to heal, and Warrington barely out of first gear after training camp, all eyes will be on his next move.
Here, SunSport runs through five potential opponents for the Yorkshireman.
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KID GALAHAD
It might not be the fight Warrington wants, but Galahad is now the proud owner of Warrington’s old IBF featherweight world title.
Speaking on Sky Sports after watching Warrington’s revenge mission end in tears, Galahad admitted he WOULD give Warrington a shot at the belt.
And that might have something to do with the fact the Sheffield man wants his own revenge – Warrington beat him on points in a tight affair in June 2019.
It was a messy, blundering kind of scrap – and not one the fans would be overjoyed with. But Warrington’s army would still turn out in force.
WINNER OF SHAKUR STEVENSON VS JAMEL HERRING
Warrington has always said it his dream to fight in America – yet the time is passing by to get this sorted.
He was previously in talks to fight US prodigy Shakur Stevenson, but that never materialised.
Stevenson will fight WBO super-featherweight champ Jamel Herring in October, and Warrington could well angle for the winner.
But the Brit has been criticised for not having enough punch power at featherweight, so stepping up to fight one of these two could be Mission Impossible.
Herring ended Warrington’s old foe Carl Frampton‘s career – could he do the same to Josh?
LEO SANTA CRUZ
Four-division world champ Santa Cruz is coming towards the end of his career at 33, but is still a formidable opponent.
He was involved in two barnstormers against Northern Irish hero Frampton – a man Warrington enjoyed a stunning unanimous points win against.
Santa Cruz is also still a world champion – though he lost against Gervonta Davis last time out, it was a catchweight fight so he maintained his WBA belt.
And the Mexican still draws big crowds in the US – where Warrington wants to head.
EMANUEL NAVARETTE
The 26-year-old Mexican is on a stunning run of form, with seven KO wins in his last eight fights.
Navarette has only lost once in his pro career to Daniel Argueta – but that came in 2012 on points.
He is the current WBO featherweight world champ – and being Mexican will mean fans will flock to support the fighter.
MAURICIO LARA
The obvious next opponent would be the man for the trilogy in Lara.
Warrington had started off well against the powerful Mexican, but it was still early days.
And Lara was still moving the Leeds Warrior around the ring when he connected with jabs and hooks.
Warrington is CLEARLY desperate to get his revenge against the 23 year old, but his promoter insisted after the latest disappointment that there were ‘other options’ for Warrington.
