JOSH WARRINGTON returned to the ring with a huge comeback win over Asad Asif Khan!
The bout was on the undercard of Dalton Smith vs Mathieu Germain, with Smith charging to a comprehensive triumph.
Former two-time featherweight champion Warrington had reportedly considered retirement after suffering three consecutive defeats, and could now go forth to a big summer showdown against Ireland’s Michzel Conlan.
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- Get me my shot!- Dalton says: “There’s no better feeling than fighting in my home town. When it went a bit quiet in there, they helped me up the pace. - “All I want to say is, I want that world title shot next. - “I did what I had to do, me and my dad said I had to enjoy the rounds and I could have done twenty. - “Credit to Germain, he was tough but I needed those rounds and my dad told me not to knock him out. - “I finished the last one in the first and this one went the distance, it’s hard when somone runs like that.” 
- Smith wins UD- After three knockdowns – and one point deducted for low blows – the three judges award Dalton Smith the unanimous win. - The cards read: 117-107 and 119-105 and 119-105. - Smith remains undefeated and dangerous. - But Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn needs to deliver his man a world title shot now, before the warm-ups get boring. 
- Germain down R12!- This one counts and gets an eight-count. - Germain is down and up and hurt and brave. - The Canadian’s skull and ribs must be burning but Smith cannot finish him. - Fight over. - Smith wins every round but Mathieu Germain proves himself a freakishly tough man. 
- Germain down R12!- But it won’t be counted as a knockdown as it was a low blow. - Smith holds his gloves up and apologises straight away. - But referee Victor Loughlin takes a token point off of Smith for the repeat offence. 
- Germain down R11!- Smith takes the advice from his corner and folds his foe down into the canvas. - Germain bounces back up, looking more annoyed with himself than lame. - He doesn’t run away or clinch, either, he keeps dancing around and popping out his own punches. 
- Smith vs Germain R10- Another one-sided round, almost like a spar for Smith. - Germain does not want to be stopped and he hasn’t looked close to it. - It will be a badge of honour for the low-profile veteran to go the distance with red-hot Smith. - Smith’s corner tell their man give the ref a reason to jump in and end it. 
- Smith vs Germain R9- Smith goes through the whole arsenal of punches but doesn’t trouble Germain again. - There’s no threat coming back from the visitor so Smith should put his foot down and end this early. - Germain hasn’t won a round but he’s also only looked hurt once. 
- Smith vs Germain R8- Germain is bundled out of the ring but it’s not counted as a knockdown. - Smith manhandled him and the Canadian flew through the ropes and thankfully wasn’t hurt. - The action resumes inside the ropes. 
- Smith vs Germain R7- Dull round. - Germain is on his bike and Smith is going around the houses. - The crowd and viewers will need a decent knockout to erase the memory of this frustrating opening seven rounds. 
- Smith vs Germain R6- Smith slashes at the Canadian’s body with both heavy hands. - A one-two to the head scores also, it’s a landslide on the cards but it’s not a highlight-reel performance so far. - One dangerous left hook might have dropped Germain but it grazed his nose and his leaped out of danger. 
- Smith vs Germain R6- The Montreal man doesn’t want to get hurt or embarrassed so he is staying on the outskirts of the ring. - Smith needs to be smarter with his pressure and cut down the ring, rather than following Germain around like a puppy. - Smith launches a long left hook but a fruitless single shot and Germain swerves it. 
- Smith vs Germain R5- It feels like Smith is looking for the perfect counter punch to win – and it’s just not coming. - The combinations are few and far between. - Smith lands an accidental low blow and Germain gets time from the referee for his groin to recover. - Another session slipbs by, into Smith’s pocket, but without much action. 
- Smith vs Germain R4- Double-jab-right-hand-left-hook from Smith drives Germain into a corner. - It looks like curtains for the visitor again. - But Smith’s best shots are just off target or Germain is a nanosecond too fast. - And the underdog hears another bell before Smith Sr tells his boy to throw an uppercut after a body blow. 
- Smith vs Germain R3- Germain’s shaven head gets more slaps and pokes and whacks. - Smith is so calm in the ring and is ice-cold like a Steel City assassin. - Germain deserves credit and respect for taking some big shots and remaining in range for more. 
- Smith vs Germain R3- Smith has the stench of blood in his nostrils and Germain is a sitting Canadian duck. - Germain wants to go out on his shield, though, he is on the front foot and hurling shots. - A lesser, or wiser, man would run around the ropes and hide but Germain gets in range and lands a left hook 
- Germain down R2!- The visitor scoots around the ring smartly enough but every time he ventures inward, he looks scared. - Smith stalks him menacingly but doesn’t take risks. - Right on the bell, Smith lands a peach of a left hook and Germain falls heavily and gets saved by the bell. - 2-0 Smith, with a 10-8 round. 
- Smith vs Germain R1- Smith used the opener to get a read on his opponent, to suss his tells and his feints. - Then the local hero landed a whipped left hook and a body shot. - And, in the clinch, Germain bizarrely chose to grab and hold Smith’s leg. - Smith’s dad and trainer Grant used the break to tell his boy to target more body shots. 
- Smith vs Germain R1- Sheffield’s Dalton Smith is mandatory for the WBC super-light world title. - So he is treading water with Mathieu Germain tonight and will do well to last the opening five rounds. - Smith iced his last overmatched opponent in ONE ROUND in January. - Another hometown show tonight and a confidence builder before the world title effort for the Wednesday fan. 
- Dalton Smith vs Mathieu Germain NEXT!- Home hero Smith is undefeated with a record of 17 wins from 17 bouts. - The 28-year-old wants a world title fight next year, so he MUST win here tonight. - Mathieu Germain’s record includes 26 wins, two defeats and one draw. 
- Moment Josh drops Khan in the sixth
- Warrington: ‘I’m a bit disappointed’- After his win, Warrington said: “Am I bit disappointed? Yeah. Felt like I could’ve ended it sooner. - “But I’m happy to be back in the ring. - “I know there were times I was hurting him, he was sometimes making noises before I was even throwing anything. - “So I knew he was hurt.” - On what’s really left in Josh Warrington, he added: “There’s been a few hiccups and set-backs. - “Obviously it’s about implementing what I’m doing in the gym.” - The Brit added that he’d be open to fighting Michael Conlan next, who beat Khan in less decisive fashion a few months ago. - He concluded: “Just a massive thanks to my family, my wife and kids, they’ve sacrificed a lot for me.” 
- Warrington secures unanimous decision win- The Leeds Warrior wins the vote of all three judges with a dominant performance over Asad Asif Khan. - The gloves are still very much on! - The scorecard: - 99-89
- 99-90
- 97-91
 
- Warrington vs Khan R10- The Brit’s engine, stamina and passion is still there. - But whether the power, skill, and elitism is, is hard to know given the level of opposition tonight. - The Leeds Warrior unleashes several shots the body and allows Khan to walk into a right hand. - Khan will go the distance and deserves every bit of his purse after looking on the verge of a knockout in Round 6. - Warrington didn’t get the finish, but he’s surely won the 10 rounds. 
- Warrington vs Khan R9- The pair clinch and the Brit lands a couple of jabs. - Neither man carries knockout power to fear at the moment so it’s who puts together the better combinations. - Khan’s are textbook and scoring occasionally but Warrington is showing more ability and fitness ahead of the final round. 
- Warrington vs Khan R8- Warrington comes flying out again – remember he hasn’t won since 2022. But he has been victorious in every single session here. - The Brit unleashed again, stabbing at his head and slashing at his ribs. - If he was serious about America, then Josh shouldn’t really let Khan hear the final bell. - He should end it. He’s cruising, but Khan is weathering it now. - Warrington more-or-less 8-1 up, at least. 
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
 
 
