Josh Warrington is focused on his title shot but knows he will one day need to deal with a Mauricio Lara rematch.
During the coronavirus pandemic Lara upset Warrington fand was stopped in nine rounds. Warrington had vacated his IBF featherweight belt beforehand in the hope of securing bigger fights against rivals but the loss threatened to derail his career.
Warrington and Lara fought against last September but an accidental headbutt led to the fight being called off as a draw, and there is no trilogy fight on the cards yet.
The Briton next fights on March 26th against Kiko Martinez for the IBF title in Leeds.
Lara himself beat Emilio Sanchez last weekend with an impressive knockout, but speaking to PA, Warrington said he would not be distracted by his erstwhile opponent.
“I’m fully focused on Kiko Martinez and I’ve still got my own little goals like unifying the division but I’d just love to put it to bed,” he said.
“It’s still open with how the fight finished last time. Everyone’s been getting excited about him because of his win at the weekend but he’s not a Lee Selby, a Carl Frampton or a Kiko Martinez (fighters Warrington has beaten).
“He beat me, yeah, and I might sound contradictive 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.”
Martinez boasts a surprise victory of his own, when he stopped Kid Galahad last November, and the 36-year-old has plenty of experience, though he has lost to Warrington before.
Warrington conceded: “He’s always dangerous. I’ve got to be massively switched on because what he did against Galahad goes to show that if I’m not switched on, it’s good night Vienna.
“Timing, speed and reactions die off but punch power doesn’t. That was testament to it right there.
“I’ve learned that in the last 18 months more than anyone. Look at the first Lara fight, being too cocky, overlooking an opponent, thinking something was a given and ended up getting stopped in nine rounds.
“I don’t want that to happen again and it won’t be happening this time.”