Josh Warrington eyes unification fight and aims to turn Sin City into Leeds Vegas
The IBF featherweight champion wants to unify the division and a trip stateside could be next for the unbeaten Brit
JOSH WARRINGTON plans to unify the featherweight division in the States - and is ready to turn Las Vegas into Leeds Vegas.
The Yorkshire warrior put on one of the fights of the year at the Manchester Arena as he beat former two-weight world champ Carl Frampton on points.
Promoter Frank Warren described how it was “the best fight he’s ever seen in a British ring”, and went on to say that Warrington “beats them all” in his weight class.
And after watching Frampton lose in a rematch to Leo Santa Cruz over in Las Vegas in 2017, big Leeds United fan Warrington is ready for a Whites takeover of The Strip.
Speaking after his scintillating win, Warrington said: "I'm a world champion and I want to fight the best.
"I don't want steady paydays. I want to test myself and keep going. I like it busy. It keeps me going and next year we will go State-side and the journey continues.
"Next year we will take the boys stateside, to Vegas. I'd like an away trip.
“I went there in 2017 to watch Frampton v Leo Santa Cruz and took a little moment to see Carl's fans there on the Las Vegas Strip.
“I was thinking I could see the Leeds fans there so that's what I'd like next.”
Santa Cruz, whose only loss is against Frampton in 2016, is the WBA champ, Gary Russell Jr the WBC and Oscar Valdez the WBO.
Most read in boxing
And about his next opponent, Warrington said he has no preference.
He added: "They [other world champions] are all brilliant fighters and any one of them would do.
“It's the big nights that get me up for it.”
Warren described the 28-year-old as “one of the most bankable fighters in the world” and is ready to get him unification fights.
The Hall of Fame promoter said: “He went to a really big audience tonight in the States, ESPN are massive, and that fight will be fight of the year, there’s no doubt about that and they’ve seen it.
“And he won it, and looked good winning it. I should think that is the best fight they’ve seen for some time in the States, the best fight for ages.
“That was better than Canelo and Golovkin and that was a great fight.”