Josh Warrington loses the world title after majority point loss to Luis Alberto Lopez with the American Dream in shambles

JOSH WARRINGTON lost his IBF featherweight world title to Luis Alberto Lopez on a dark day for the English sport.

The 32-year-old Leeds legend was surpassed by the 29-year-old with scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-113 just hours after England were eliminated from the World Cup after their captain Harry Kane missed a penalty.

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Fans packed the Leeds arena early to watch the match between fights – with a thirsty punter spitting all over the press seats – and Warrington felt just as sick when he got the result delivered.

Warrington roared “F*** the doubter” in the pre-fight promotional video that aired just before his move into the ring.

The 29-year-old Mexican entered the Yorkshire arena on a three-KO winning streak and he was definitely in the mood for another short shift on his trip to Britain.

The Mexican threw in left and right hooks and uppercuts from miles away and one landed enough to smash Warrington’s nose and leave him bleeding from the earliest punches.

But the Englishman boxed better with jabs and straight rights to Lopez’s head and body.

Lopez kept complaining about headbutts in the second round and then referee Bob Williams called for a rest after injuring the corner of his left eye in a collision.

Warrington was definitely suspicious of Lopez’s power and kept a high guard. Luckily most of the wages sent his way could be spotted after half an hour before he caught most of them with his gloves.

Lopez liked to crouch low on his hips and jump into every left hook and uppercut.

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But Warrington was shrewd in his tactics and extremely vigilant, especially after the brutal defeat he suffered to Mauricio Lara in 2021.

By the fourth round, it was clear Warrington’s once-furious work pace was slipping, but he was still able to manipulate Lopez, who kept complaining about the champion’s crude tactics.

A flush left hook was Warrington’s best punch of the fifth, but Lopez sent it well and kept hitting back even after the bell ended the stanza.

Lopez was too macho for his own good in the sixth, dropping his heavy hands and calling for a slugfest.

Warrington signed generously and clipped him with a handful of shots on goal but still didn’t falter the powerful visitor.

Warrington’s chiseled cheekbones made their mark on round seven, but he didn’t appear to have been hurt by any of Lopez’s unorthodox power shots.

Lopez barely stopped talking rubbish, but a clean left hook from the Brit silenced him for a second on round nine.

But Warrington then hit him below the belt and Lopez got a breather from referee Bob Williams to regroup.

Then the challenger again complained about a clip on the back of his head, but thankfully Warrington avoided a point penalty.

Lap 10 was rough, with too much holding and fans were growing concerned as to whether her husband was doing enough to convince the three judges that he should keep his crown.

The eleventh was Warrington’s best round, thanks to a one-two and later some left hooks that marked Lopez on the chin.

Lopez spoiled the 12th by holding as much as possible, but Warrington chased him around the ring as much as he could, still swinging after the final bell.

But the cards pointed to another defeat for the Leeds Warrior, all but ending his dreams of conquering America.

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