By Jake Donovan
Josh Warrington dominated Australia's Joel Brunker in every facet of the game in scoring a 12-round shutout win Saturday evening in Leeds, England.
Scores were 120-108 across the board for Warrington, who fed off the energy from the lively hometown crowd at First District Arena.
Warrington boasts a modest four career knockouts, but all have come in the span of his past six fights heading into Saturday's bout. There were no knockdowns at any point in the fight, but the local favorite had Brunker on the verge of a stoppage at several points on the night.
Perhaps to his credit, Brunker managed to cross the finish line, although the visiting Aussie never posed a threat at any point. Warrington was in control from the opening bell, showing the full arsenal in one of the best peformances of his still young career.
In addition to his being outgunned and fighting on the road, Brunker had to contend with a cut over his right eye. Still, the wounds were less of a factor than the fact that Warrington came to put on a show for his local fanbase.
Brunker was badly hurt in rounds 10 and 11, sequences that had the capacity crowd on its feet in hopes of a knockout finish. Warrington never took his foot off the gas, throwing hands until the final bell.
The loss is the second in the span of three fights for Brunker, who falls to 28-2 (16KOs). Both defeats came on the road in England, having suffered a ninth round knockout at the hands of Lee Selby last October.
Selby has since claimed a featherweight title, scoring a technical unanimous decision over previously unbeaten titlist Evgeny Gradovich in May. The Welshman is now in the crosshairs for Warrington, who—along with promoter Eddie Hearn—firmly believes a title fight is the logical next step in his developing career.
"I would really like for a world title fight to be my next fight," Warrington (22-0, 4KOs) said following the win.
The bout headlined a full show on Sky Sports in United Kingdom.
On the undercard, Martin Murray and Tony Bellew both picked up 5th round knockouts in their respective quests for another title shot.
Murray scored seven knockdowns en route to a 5th round stoppage of Colombia's Jose Miguel Torres. The Brit—who came up shy in three previous cracks at a middleweight title—has scored knockouts in three straight fights since moving up to super middleweight, and is now angling for a showdown with super middleweight champ Arthur Abraham.
Bellew has breathed new life into his career since moving up to cruiserweight. He had a bit more of a struggle before settling down and eventually stopping Arturs Kulikauskis in five rounds. Next up is his role in the upcoming boxing film "Creed", the latest installment from the legenday Rocky series.
As for real-life in-ring action, Bellew will serve as an interested observer for the upcoming World cruiserweight championship between Yoan Pablo Hernandez and Victor Ramirez. Promoter Eddie Hearn has hinted that Bellew is in line to face the winner.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
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