Bravose Previews: Fights happening in March 2022

As a boxing brand based in the north of England we always love to lend some support to our fellow northerners. 

This month sees the Leeds Warrior Josh Warrington (30-1-1) once again take on veteran Spanish fighter Kiko Martinez in a battle for the right to be called the featherweight champion of the world.

Despite losing and drawing with Mexican boxer Mauricio Lara (24-2-1) in his last two fights, Warrington believes he is ready for the fight and ready to hold a world title again.

However, the 31-year-old - who has an impressive record of seven knockouts in his past fighting history - will need to regain his composure after apparently ‘dropping his kebab’ when he found out Martinez had defied the odds to beat Kid Galahad, become the new IBF featherweight world champion, and set up this tie. 

Although Sheffield’s Galahad had appeared to be effortlessly on his way to an efficient and effective defence of his title, he was floored by the veteran Martinez who went on to knock him out with his first punch of the sixth round.

La Sensacion’s incredible victory came in November 2021, despite him being expected to lose, and consequently sparked the rematch in Warrington’s hometown of Leeds in Yorkshire. 

It’s the second time Warrington and Martinez will have squared up to each other, after the Yorkshireman claimed a win against the Spaniard in 2017, again at Leeds’ First Direct Arena. 

Now, five years on and it seems safe to assume that Martinez will be on the look out for revenge.

But Warrington is going into the match with a positive attitude.

The Leeds man has been quoted as saying: "He beat me, yes, and I might sound contradictory, but me switched on and I beat him easy.

"He's making a bit of smoke, he's getting a bit of excitement and he can dig. You can be a big, big hitter but it doesn't always guarantee you world titles."

"Kiko can bang, but he's not doing a one-punch knockout to me like he did against Kid Galahad.

"He ain't knocking me out, simple as that.”

Here is a round up of the major fights taking place this month.

Friday 4 March at Fresno, California, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

- Jose Ramirez vs Jose Pedraza (Super-Lightweight)

Saturday 5 March at San Diego, California, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

- Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez vs Julio Cesar Martinez (Super-Flyweight)

Saturday 12 March at Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

- Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan (WBA ‘Regular’ Featherweight Title)

Saturday 19 March at Wembley Arena, London, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry

- David Avanesyan vs Oskari Metz (European Welterweight Title)

Saturday 19 March at Dubai, UAE – Richard Schaefer’s Probellum

- Sunny Edwards vs Muhammad Waseem (IBF Flyweight Title)
- Regis Prograis vs Tyrone McKenna (Super-Lightweight)

Saturday 19 March at Los Angeles, California, USA – Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy

- Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Michael McKinson (Welterweight)

Saturday 26 March at First Direct Arena, Leeds, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

- Kiko Martinez vs Josh Warrington 2 (IBF Featherweight Title)
- Maxi Hughes vs Ryan Walsh (Lightweight)
- Maria Cecilia Roman vs Ebanie Bridges (IBF Bantamweight Title)

Saturday 26 March at Wembley Arena, London, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

- Richard Riakporhe vs Deion Jumah (Cruiserweight)