SM
Villa vs. Man City: 10 hrs 9 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Josh Warrington wants big Las Vegas fights after Carl Frampton showdown

:Headline: Josh Warrington wants big Las Vegas fights after Carl Frampton showdown: ID:342226: from db_amp
Warrington defends his IBF featherweight title against Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22.

Josh Warrington is eyeing unification bouts in Las Vegas but first intends to prove he belongs at the elite level by defeating Lee Selby and Carl Frampton in the same year.

Warrington surprised the vast majority when he bullied and harried betting favourite Selby en route to a split decision victory in his home city of Leeds in May.

The 28-year-old is once again the underdog ahead of the first defence of his IBF featherweight title against Northern Ireland's Frampton in a blockbuster domestic showdown at the Manchester Arena on December 22.

Josh Warrington, left, will make the first defence of his IBF featherweight title against Carl Frampton (Danny Lawson/PA)

Beating Selby and Frampton within months of each other would be an emphatic statement from Warrington, who told Press Association Sport: "I'm a world champion, I believe I'm the best, I want to prove I'm the best.

"I'm one fight away really from putting myself as a world name in boxing. Beating Carl puts me up there.

"I want to prove I didn't just do it as a one-off fluke or it wasn't just handed to me, I beat Lee Selby and now I'm doing Carl Frampton.

"It doesn't happen like that normally and I want to be different. Normal fighters do have a big fight, like win a world title and then a steady defence, to get that notch under their belt, but naff that!"

Leeds fan Warrington achieved a lifelong ambition when he fought at Elland Road against Selby, but he is eager to branch out to the United States in an effort to add further world titles to his collection.

The prospect of taking his vast number of followers to Las Vegas for a showdown with either WBC titlist Gary Russell Jr, WBA beltholder Leo Santa Cruz or WBO champion Oscar Valdez is proving alluring.

It is Valdez, like Warrington a relentless pressure fighter, who seems to appeal most to the Yorkshireman.

He added: "If I had the choice to go back to Elland Road or Stateside, I'd probably choose Stateside because Elland Road was its own little chapter.

Warrington, pictured, defeated Lee Selby in May to become world champion (Dave Thompson/PA)

"Since beating Selby people have spoken about 'are we going to Vegas' or 'are you going to take us to Vegas?'

"I want to – after big Carl – go on and fight Oscar Valdez. I believe when you get to this stage, you want the big fights when you've got momentum and confidence going with you.

"I've got in my head I want to go and unify the division. Those things motivate me and it's what I'm in the sport for.

"This IBF belt is lovely but it needs a partner, it needs a companion on the mantelpiece."

Warrington would relish a fight in Las Vegas (Dave Thompson/PA

Warrington was speaking ahead of the release of a feature-length documentary chronicling his ups and downs over the past couple of years, culminating in his win over Selby.

Victory over the Welshman has catapulted Warrington to fame and an increased media profile, which has not gone unnoticed by his wife Natasha.

Warrington added: "The missus said to me five or six weeks after the fight had passed 'when is this going to calm down?' I said 'Tash, as long as I have this belt it's not going to, it's just going to get busier'."

– Josh Warrington: Fighting For A City is on DVD and digital download from 26 November

amp_article__342226 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-11-23 10:16:29:
html db last update - 2018-11-23 10:16:29 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Josh Warrington

Share this article now:
Read more about Josh Warrington Boxing
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .