JOSH Warrington felt that winning feeling for the first time in over three years, outpointing Asad Asif Khan in Sheffield this evening.
The scores of 99-89 (Steve Gray), 99-90 (Victor Loughlin) and 97-91 (John Latham) were a formality. It was a rugged 10-round workout for Warrington, who admitted it was nice to get back in the win column.
“I knew he was hurt, I was a little bit wild,” said the winner, who is open to a fight with Michael Conlan as has been discussed in the media.
“In the last one against Cacace, I went in with some mental demons. I’ve exorcised them tonight.”
The Indian import showed against Michael Conlan in Brighton that he is no pushover. The 31-year-old from Calcutta needed every ounce of his resolve to get through the 10 rounds and hear the final bell.
Khan started sending out a series of distress signals in the fifth. Blood seeped from his left eye as he implored referee Mark Lyson to help restore the gumshield.
Khan’s gumshield was back out in the sixth, resulting in a point deduction for spitting it out. The sixth overall was a torrid session as Khan was felled for a count after shipping a right hand around the ear.
Khan showed extreme toughness, dealing with the Warrington aggression as best he could. Warrington, 32-4-1 (8 KOs), kept chipping away, trying to work in between his opponent’s clutches.
Asad Asif Khan falls to 19-7-1 (5 KOs) but has proven himself to be good value for a few rounds, judging by his last two visits to UK shores.
