Josh Warrington vows to silence the doubters against Carl Frampton

JOSH WARRINGTON intends to keep โ€œproving people wrongโ€ as he prepares to make the first defence of his IBF featherweight title.

Warrington feels the significance of becoming world champion at his beloved Elland Road by upsetting the odds against Lee Selby was slightly downplayed because of the Welshmanโ€™s struggles to make the 126lb limit.

The Yorkshireman is unfazed by being an underdog once more with the bookmakers ahead of his showdown against former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena this weekend.

josh warrington, pictured, became world champion by outpointing lee selby in may (dave thompson/pa)
Josh Warrington, pictured, became world champion by outpointing Lee Selby in May (Dave Thompson/PA)

Indeed, Warrington believes his status relieves the pressure on his shoulders and feels another surprise victory would go a long way to silencing his doubters.

The 28-year-old told Press Association Sport: โ€œI thought winning a world title would announce me on the world stage but I guess not. I guess you keep on fighting the big names and proving people wrong.

โ€œTo beat Lee Selby and Carl Frampton back-to-back in the same year would be some achievement. Carl has got a massive profile worldwide and a good win and people will start to know who Josh Warrington is.

โ€œBut thereโ€™s no pressure. Iโ€™m not meant to win, am I? Iโ€™m just meant to turn up, wave at the crowd and thatโ€™s it. But I always upset the party.


โ€œThey canโ€™t deny my achievements when I beat Carl at the weekend.โ€

It is nearly two years since Frampton last fought for a world title, losing for the first time as a professional to Leo Santa Cruz in January 2017 having outpointed the American six months earlier.

The Northern Irishman has endured some fractious periods in the interim, including switching trainer and promoter, but has rebounded with three straight wins to get himself back into the world title picture.

Warrington believes Frampton is a worthy contender but added his foe may be in the last chance saloon at the elite level.

Warrington added: โ€œHeโ€™s a former world champion and former pound-for-pound fighter… You canโ€™t get those credentials without being a decent fighter.

โ€œHeโ€™s going to want it. It could be his last throw of the dice so heโ€™s going to give absolutely everything. But weโ€™re prepared for that and Iโ€™m prepared for anything that he can bring.โ€

Frampton rates Warrington behind WBA titlist Santa Cruz, WBO champion Oscar Valdez and WBC beltholder Gary Russell Jr at featherweight.

However, the Belfast fighter thinks he is capable of beating them all.


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Another day closer to the 22nd, Iโ€™m ready for this. #Fightingback #FramptonWarrington #Frampton

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He said: โ€œAt this point in time Iโ€™ll be respectful to the champions so Iโ€™ll not put myself as a number one.

โ€œI would say, in terms of what heโ€™s done, Leo Santa Cruz is number one, I would say flick of a coin between Valdez and Gary Russell and then I would say Warrington is number four โ€“ and thatโ€™s not being disrespectful.

โ€œTheyโ€™re the champions but I beat them all on my day.โ€

โ€“ Josh Warrington defends his IBF World Featherweight title against Carl Frampton exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office, Saturday December 22. Watch for just ยฃ19.95, for more info visit www.bt.com/sportboxoffice

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