JOSH WARRINGTON intends to keep โproving 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 Welshmanโs 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.
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: โI 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.
โTo 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.
โBut thereโs no pressure. Iโm not meant to win, am I? Iโm just meant to turn up, wave at the crowd and thatโs it. But I always upset the party.
โThey canโt 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.
Thereโs a storm brewing in Manchester this weekendโฆ โ ๏ธ #WarringtonFramptom pic.twitter.com/iWce7YlOsC
โ Frank Warren (@frankwarren_tv) December 19, 2018
Warrington added: โHeโs a former world champion and former pound-for-pound fighter… You canโt get those credentials without being a decent fighter.
โHeโs going to want it. It could be his last throw of the dice so heโs going to give absolutely everything. But weโre prepared for that and Iโm 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.
View this post on InstagramAnother day closer to the 22nd, Iโm ready for this. #Fightingback #FramptonWarrington #Frampton
He said: โAt this point in time Iโll be respectful to the champions so Iโll not put myself as a number one.
โI would say, in terms of what heโs 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 thatโs not being disrespectful.
โTheyโre 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