Warrington will exercise Lara rematch clause, has no jaw fracture

Promoter Eddie Hearn intends to stage the rematch with fans in attendance.

Matchroom head honcho Eddie Hearn once again sat down with iFL TV earlier today to discuss recent and future developments. The first and most pressing topic was reigning Upset of the Year victim Josh Warrington, who fell to unheralded Mauricio Lara this past weekend. According to Hearn, Warrington’s jaw isn’t fractured as previously feared, and after a brief recovery period for other injuries, they’ll be exercising their rematch clause at the “end of the summer.”

Warrington (30-1, 7 KO) entered 2021 with the IBF featherweight belt around his waist and a unification match with Xu Can on the horizon. He ended up vacating the title after the sanctioning body ordered him to rematch Kid Galahad instead, then seemingly lost the Xu fight entirely when “Bronco” Lara (22-2, 15 KO) utterly demolished him.

Though Hearn and others have chalked the loss up to ring rust, there was nothing fluky about it. An immediate rematch is a serious risk.

Other tidbits:

• Conor Benn vs Josh Kelly is a possibility if both men come out victorious in their upcoming bouts, though Hearn is hesitant to commit to anything after last Saturday’s debacle.
• The Teofimo Lopez-George Kambosos Jr purse bid has been pushed back a week due to inclement weather at the IBF’s New Jersey offices.
• Craig Richards is “in negotiations” to meet Dmitry Bivol ahead of the champ’s planned summer bout with Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.
• They’re still negotiating the ordered WBA super middleweight title fight between David Morrell and John Ryder.