SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – Josh Warrington picked up a unanimous decision win over Asad Asif Khan in his first fight back after coming out of retirement.

Khan recently faced one of Warrington’s junior lightweight rivals in Michael Conlan, and Warrington aimed to do a better job ahead of a proposed showdown with the Irishman later this year.

Warrington, now 32-4-1 (8 KOs), started the first in his typical aggressive fashion, and looked to sink in hard shots to Khan’s midsection. The Indian was an awkward customer and managed to tie up Warrington before he could land anything of note.

Warrington, 34, continued his pursuit of Khan, now 19-7-1 (5 KOs), in the second and third rounds but he again struggled to land anything to the head. Warrington was able to land plenty to the arms and body of Khan, 31, but he would fall into his shots as he switched the attacks up to the head.

In the fourth, Warrington finally started to score with some hard shots on the inside. He was physical in the clinches with Khan, and shrugged the Indian off before landing an overhand right. Warrington landed another right hand which knocked out Khan’s gumshield early into the fifth. Then, as the Indian complained to the referee, he ate another.

As the sixth began, Warrington landed yet another right hand on the top of Khan’s head and this one sent the Indian tumbling to the floor. Khan returned to his feet but was bashed from pillar to post. He had to spit out his gum shield for a precious few seconds recovery.

Things quieted down in the sixth; Warrington pressed forwards but Khan was able to tie him up before he could land any more of his hard rights. Warrington had Khan hurt again in the seventh, after yet another right hand clipped Khan’s chin.

The pace of the fight dropped in the eighth. Warrington had seemingly accepted that Khan was going to be too awkward to finish off and he was also now feeling the pace. The pair saved their energy for the final moments of the tenth round and finished the fight swinging.

Warrington was awarded a unanimous decision with the scorecards reading 99-89, 99-90 and 97-91 all in favour of the Leeds fighter.