Lee Selby vs Josh Warrington – Five key questions

Lee Selby vs Josh Warrington – Five key questions:

How will Warrington deal with his first world title fight?

At age 27 Warrington is getting his first shot at world glory, Selby on the other hand is competing in his fifth since winning the IBF featherweight world title against Russian Evgeny Gradovich in May 2015.

Selby has one fight more on his record compared to Warringtonย  but will the three years of world level experience be the deciding factor?

Is Selby struggling at the weight?

A career featherweight Selby has spent ten years at 126lbs, and the Welshman told Boxing News last year he could possibly visit super-featherweight. Warrington exploited these claims by telling BN: โ€œTiming is everything in boxing, many people have said before, and itโ€™s quite well known in the boxing circle, he struggles at the weight.โ€

Are Warringtonโ€™s claims and Selbyโ€™s suggestions a hint the champion is outgrowing his division?

How big a factor is staging the fight at Elland Road?

Born in Leeds and an avid fan of the club, having the fight staged at his hometownโ€™s football ground could play a massive part in the fight. Warrington previously suggested having 20,000 home fans will play to his advantage however Selby was quick to dismiss these claims.

Having been no stranger to fighting away, even defending his world title in America, will Selby deal with the pressure of an away crowd?

Is this Selbyโ€™s toughest challenge yet?

During Selbyโ€™s four defences of his title he has faced former three-weight world champion Fernando Montiel however the Mexican was well past his prime, and Jonathan Victor Barros. Before this Selby beat Stephen Smith and Ryan Walsh on the domestic scene. Warrington’s record stands at 26-0 while having been a former British, Commonwealth and WBC International featherweight champion,ย so the Yorkshireman comes into the contest in form.

Will an in-form Warrington pose as Selbyโ€™s toughest test due to his recent run of performances?

lee selby vs josh warrington

Where does the winner go next?

With Leo Santa Cruz, Oscar Valdez and Gary Russell Jr all world champions in the featherweight division, the winner could look for a blockbuster unification. Alternatively, former two weight world champion Carl Frampton is next in line for Valdezโ€™s WBO title but with the Mexican recovering from a broken jaw the Belfast man could become free for another a UK showdown possibly at Windsor Park.

Will the winner look to defend against Frampton or search for a unification bout?

 

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