Josh Warrington: record, next fight and profile →
Josh Warrington has challenged IBF world featherweight champion Lee Selby to defend his world title at Elland Road. Leeds' First Direct Arena plays host to Warrington's next bout on September 5 - defending his Commonwealth title against past Selby victim Joel Brunker - but the 24-year-old is already targeting a world title shot at the Welshman, who publicly doubted Warrington's credentials in a recent interview.
Josh Warrington says he is ready to take the "next big step" in his career by beating Joel Brunker in Leeds on September 5, live on Sky Sports. Warrington, who enters the fight with a perfect 21-0 record, is aiming to defend his WBC International and Commonwealth Featherweight titles against the 29 year-old Australian. Brunker returns to the UK for his first bout since losing to Lee Selby in an IBF world title eliminator at the O2 Arena last October - his first professional defeat.
World champion Lee Selby does not believe Josh Warrington has the requisite class to succeed at the top of the featherweight division. Selby seized the IBF title in May from Evgeny Gradovich, out-boxing the champion until a cut eye forced the referee to stop the fight in the eighth round and go to the scorecards which were overwhelmingly in the Welshman's favour. In his preceding bout, the 28-year-old Barry fighter dispatched Australia's Joel Brunker - who Warrington takes on live on Sky Sports on September 5 - inside nine rounds.
Eddie Hearn believes Josh Warrington can earn a world title bout with IBF world featherweight champion Lee Selby if he beats Joel Brunker in style on September 5. The 24-year-old Warrington (21-0-KO4) fights in his hometown of Leeds against Australia's Brunker (28-1-KO16), who was beaten by Selby via ninth-round stoppage in October 2014, and Hearn knows an emphatic Warrington victory could set-up an all-British world title fight. Hearn said: "Selby against Warrington is a fight that really, really should happen but Josh has to keep winning.
Unbeaten European featherweight champion Josh Warrington is confident of beating Joel Brunker in greater style than world champion Lee Selby. The 24-year-old will fight in his hometown of Leeds on September 5 – live on Sky Sports – against the Australian, who was stopped by Selby in nine rounds in a title eliminator back in October 2014. Selby went on to win the IBF world featherweight title in his next fight but Warrington believes he can do better than the Welshman did against Brunker.
Josh Warrington gets to fight at home for the fourth time in his past five starts, but is dealt no easy touch. The unbeaten featherweight braces for a showdown with Australia's Joel Brunker, which tops a newly announced September 5 show at First District Arena in Leeds, England. The bout—which airs live on Sky Sports—will be contested for a regional title, which Warrington acquired in the very same arena with a 12-round win over Dennis Tuberion in his last start in March. “I’m delighted to be defending my title at the First Direct Arena again – it’s my home and Joel Brunker is the perfect opponent for me,” said Warrington (21-0, 4KOs). “I think it will be a very good fight against Brunker, he’s a come forward fighter, busy and will make it difficult for me – but I’m ready for whatever he can bring.”
British featherweight Josh Warrington (21-0) has due to what is described as a slight injury relinquished the EBU title. According to the EBU, Warrington is unable to fight until September. Official Challenger Alex Miskirtchian (25-3-1) will now face the highest available challenger. Warrington vs. Miskirtchian was tentatively set for May 30 in London.
Lee Selby insists he would welcome a British battle with Josh Warrington if he wins a world title next month. The Welshman will challenge Evgeny Gradovich for the IBF featherweight belt at London’s O2 Arena on May 30, live on Sky Sports Box Office. But he kept a close eye on Warrington, his Leeds rival, from ringside as the hometown favourite pounded out a one-sided points win over Dennis Tubieron at the First Direct Arena. There has already been talk about a big domestic showdown between the duo and Selby is open to the idea if he emerges victorious in the capital. “He’s winning and improving with every fight,” Selby told Sky Sports. “He’s picked up another one of my vacant titles - the WBC international title and he’s snapping at my heels.
The Leeds star was well on top though in front of his adoring and vocal support, and while both men heard the final bell, Warrington was awarded the win 119-109, 119-110 and 119-109 on the judges’ scorecards. The result will improve the 24 year old’s standing in the world rankings and with domestic rival Lee Selby watching from ringside for Sky Sports ahead of his World title shot on May 30, Warrington said he will look to defend his European crown before hunting down a clash with the Welshman, who he tipped to win the World title. “First of all, I want to give massive credit to Dennis Tubieron, he is hard as nails,” said Warrington. “A couple of times I thought I had him and was going to get him out of there and full credit, he is a tough opponent.
Undefeated Irish super featherweight Jono Carroll, 22, a sensational winner of the last year version of the Prizefighter series (beating established veterans Stephen Foster and Gary Buckland along the way) improved his record to 7-0, 1 KO, with a workmanlike decision over rugged Spaniard Carlos Perez (4-3, 1 KO). The sole score of referee Michael Alexander was 60-54. --------------------- Former BBBofC English and British light heavyweight champ Bob Ajisafe (15-2, 6 KOs) made a short work of Georgian journeyman George Kandelaki (14-13, 4 KOs), who shouldn't be confused with undefeated former heavyweight contender of the same name, also from Georgia. Time of stoppage was 1:53