Fighter Feature: Josh Warrington

Fighter Feature: Josh Warrington

By James Hailston

A loud, packed, raucous sports venue in a city in the north of England. A large following of the local football clubs supporters. A world title fight. An underdog. A proven world champion. Whilst not quite on the scale of Ricky Hatton’s upset victory over the great Kostya Tsyzu way back in 2005, Josh Warrington’s triumph over the classy Welshman Lee Selby in front of his beloved Elland Road faithful had lots of similarities to that of the fiery haired Mancunian’s greatest night in the squared circle. But they certainly don’t end there.

Hatton’s fan friendly, aggressive style as well as his large local support are just two of the things Warrington can also boast of. Like the former two weight world champion, Warrington possesses a potent body attack, underrated jab, solid chin and massive engine. His footwork is another tool that is widely overlooked. He’s certainly not a carbon copy of Hatton (few could manage that and he has his own style) but there’s enough common ground between them to believe the Leeds man could be only a few fights away from superstardom.

However, maybe the biggest compliment you can pay Warrington is the way in which he’s got himself to this position. Through sheer hard work and an unwavering self belief he’s shook off underdog tag after underdog tag to fight his way from an English title in 13 fights to Leeds’ first world champion in 27.

That’s not to mention the British, Commonwealth, European and WBC International titles he’s picked up along the way. From being ‘feather fisted’ to ‘one dimensional’ his critics have been rife at times but he’s made proving them wrong a consistent trend, no matter who may be standing in the opposite corner.

He recently extended his record to 28-0 (6 kos) with a points victory over the very highly regarded Carl Frampton in his first defence of the IBF world title he won that crazy night at Elland road against Selby. Yet again he was the underdog, yet again he fought against the odds, yet again he was victorious. He even showed he carries more power than his record suggests by hurting Frampton several times.

Like all the top fighters seem capable of doing, Warrington finds a new level everytime he is asked of it by being stepped up in opposition.

From starting off in a 4 rounder at Huddersfield leisure centre to topping the bill at his beloved Leeds United Football Club for the world title, Josh Warrington has done things the old school way. Tough fights he was sometimes supposed to lose, steps up in class he supposedly wasn’t ready for. He’s always found the answer. Other people may have doubted him, questioned the tools with which he uses to ply his trade but he’s never let them stop him.

In Kid Galahad, a switch hitting slickster from the Ingle gym, he faces a banana skin this Saturday. It’s another tough fight but get through this one and all of a sudden the unification fights with the likes of Gary Russell Jr, Leo Santa Cruz and Oscar Valdez will be within touching distance. All 3 are top operators. But would you bet against him shaking off one more underdog tag? With all 3 being based in the States there may be one more comparison to make to the great Ricky Hatton. Thousands of northern Englishmen making a lot of noise for their hometown world champion in America ring any bells?