Josh Warrington looks set for a unification outing next.
The 29-year-old has been is closing in on a featherweight unification fight after rejoining promoter Eddie Hearn back in February.
Warrington, the IBF world champion at 126 pounds, has been out of the ring since ousting Sofiane Takoucht of France back in October and has long craved big fights. Shakur Stevenson, the WBO champion, had been mooted as a potential future foe, but it seems that China’s WBA ‘regular’ champion Xu Can is the front-runner to be in the opposite corner to the 29-year-old when he returns.
The aforementioned Hearn was hosting an Instagram Live session with the former British, Commonwealth and European champion on Monday afternoon and he revealed that terms have been agreed for the showdown, with a date and venue expected to be confirmed when boxing returns from the COVID-19 suspension.
“We have agreed terms with Can Xu to have that big fight for [Josh] in the summer,” Hearn said on social media.
Xu is promoted by Golden Boy who are tied in with broadcaster DAZN in the US –– the same company Hearn is under contract with in the States –– and holds the WBA ‘regular’ belt, but Hearn suggested that the Super championship, along with the vacant Ring Magazine belt, will be at stake when the pair meet.
The Emerald Headingley Stadium, the home of Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club, is likely to be the venue and Boxing Scene understands that the clash was originally scheduled to take place on May 30.
“You know, as soon as the first bell goes, Xu Can is flying out to the centre of the ring, sitting down on his punches and throwing hell for leather,” said Warrington in response to the news. “We want entertaining fights, we want to be part of memorable fights and a massive stadium fight with a mad atmosphere will help to produce exactly that.”
An announcement on Warrington vs. Xu will be made in due course.