Former two-time world IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington arrives in Sheffield in a confident mood ahead of his WBA title challenge against Leigh Wood.
The Leeds native makes the short journey down the M1 into South Yorkshire knowing that he faces a ‘must-win’ position against Wood, who, despite a defeat earlier this year, is on a solid run of form following his capture of the WBA crown in 2021.
In contrast, Warrington has won only one of his previous four contests, and last suffered a defeat to Luis Alberto Lopez in December of 2022.
However, Warrington remains positive despite being a few days out from fight night at the Sheffield Arena and is using the media commitments expected from fighters as a distraction to help Warrington pass the time.
“It’s just here, isn’t it? It’s here. You just want to get in there and fight. He’s stood there. Have I got an adrenaline rush? No, I’m pretty chilled out. We’ve got to do all of this media stuff, the open workouts, it’s all part of the promotion. We know when Saturday comes, that’s when the real stuff happens. This kind of helps speed up the week a little bit. I don’t mind it. Listen, I’d rather be sat at home watching Homes Under the Hammer with my feet up, but it speeds up the time.
Warrington is under no illusions and says that his upcoming encounter with Wood is the biggest fight of his illustrious career to date, but insisted that every fight since his professional debut has also felt the same regarding expectations and magnitude for his career.
“I’ve said it throughout my career, every fight has been must-win. Go back to the 31st of October, 2009 my professional debut - that was a must-win. I wanted to get off on winning ways. As your career goes on, that next one is your biggest one. In terms of is it my biggest night altogether, you’ll have to ask me that when I’m done and retired. At this moment in time in my career, it’s the biggest fight.
Ultimately, the possible rewards for Warrington if he becomes a three-time world champion is something he had never contemplated before in his career. However, Warrington believes he can add more success to his impressive CV, which has seen English, British, European and two IBF world titles against his name in an impressive career.
“I pinched myself becoming a World Champion, never mind a three-time World Champion. That’s not bad that. I’m going to be asking for freebies around where I live. It’s fantastic, but we’re not done. There’s this, and there’s more to add to it. I still strongly believe that I can add more to my career. I always say Josh Warrington win no matter how it comes, but this one, I don’t see it going 12 rounds.”
