Warren beats Matchroom in purse bid for Warrington-Galahad fight

Frank Warren outbid rival promoter Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing this week to win the rights to the mandatory IBF featherweight title fight between Josh Warrington and Kid Galahad.

Warren bid $1.68 million for the fight, with Matchroom offering $1.44 million. Warren promotes the titleholder Warrington (28-0, 6 KO), while Matchroom promotes Galahad (26-0, 15 KO).

Warrington, 28, had a breakout year in 2018, going from a dismissed potential contender to a proven titleholder. He won the IBF belt from Lee Selby in an upset on May 19 in Leeds, and followed up with a win in another fight where many expected him to be outgunned, toppling Carl Frampton on Dec. 22 in Manchester.

Galahad, also 28, went 3-0 on the year, with two of the wins coming in nothing more than tune-up bouts to keep him active. The key victory came on Oct. 20 in Boston, when he beat Toka Kahn Clary in an eliminator to get the title shot.