World featherweight champion Josh Warrington would face Sofiane Takoucht in his hometown of Leeds on Saturday, October 12, as he defends his title for a massive third time. This would be Warrington’s first fight after facing Kid Galahad in June in a bout that he describes as a “cuddling contest.” But he has now vowed to make this match worthwhile.
Takoucht is currently world featherweight number four and is, by most ramifications, not a fighter you can push over. In just three years, the Frenchman has achieved some impressive records and has added some big names to those he has beaten. Although his most of his opponents have been local fighters, he has, nonetheless, done impressively well. He is going into the Saturday match with eight consecutive wins behind, and beating Warrington could make it an impressive nine. But can he do it?
Leeds star, Warrington would defend his title after first winning it in a match against Lee Selby, back in May 2018. He has defended it twice, first against Carl Frampton in December 2018, and recently against Kid Galahad. Acknowledging that his last match was not all that great, although he won, Warrington has said he would put up an “A Class Performance.”
If stats are anything to go by, Warrington would sail through and defend his title. But boxing, like everything in life, is unpredictable. Takoucht is not a boxer somebody like Warrington can overlook. If anything at all, they are quite similar in some levels – resilient and tough.
But Warrington, who has remained unbeaten with 29 wins, understands that he has to prepare hard as he “understands how fighters can get,” but he would not let himself be like them. Also, one can expect Takoucht to go out of his way to deliver a good fight to win the award. He has so much to gain from this. As for Warrington, winning this match would attract him to be able to battle other world champions, and that is something he needs to fight for.
Warrington is fancied at 1.02 to defeat Takoucht, while the Takoucht is backed at 11.50 to win Warrington.
Written by: Leon Osamor
