I’ll give Carl a rematch if he lifts world title: Warrington
JOSH Warrington would welcome a rematch with Carl Frampton but only if the Belfast fighter wins a world featherweight title.
Warrington capped a breakout year by following up his surprise victory over Lee Selby last May, when he wrenched the IBF crown from the Welshman, by outpointing Frampton in December to retain his belt in another upset.
Defeat in a highly-entertaining bout left Frampton contemplating retirement, but he decided to carry on and has his sights set on challenging WBO title holder Oscar Valdez after signing a co-promotional deal with Top Rank.
Warrington is intent on establishing a legacy within the 126lb division so would only countenance a repeat of his punishing 12-round battle against Frampton if his rival were to win world honours again.
“Maybe I should have got chinned then I would have got that opportunity,” Warrington quipped when asked what he thought of the former two weight world champion linking up with Top Rank. “Good for Carl, it’s good to see him going on. Hopefully he can get a big fight, get a world title and if he does then hopefully we can get a rematch down the line.
“I’d happily give him a rematch as long as he’s got a world title.”
Frampton’s new promotional deal means his fights will be shown on ESPN platforms in the United States. Asked whether he would like to follow his rival’s lead, Warrington added: “If that means I’d get a fight in the States against one of the other champions, then yeah.
“I’m quite open to anything and anything that will lead me to a fight with one of the other world champions.
“It’s gone beyond making history for myself, my family, my friends and my city, now it’s creating a legacy for the country.
“I could go down as one of the country’s greats in terms of featherweight or maybe even one of the country’s best fighters in all the divisions.
“We’ve had a few world champions recently but we don’t have many unified champions and I believe I can do that.”
Before any potential unification bouts, Warrington will take on mandatory challenger and fellow Yorkshireman Kid Galahad on June 15 at the Leeds Arena.
Warrington beat Galahad twice when they were in the amateur ranks and is convinced the Sheffield fighter is still stung by the pair of losses.
Warrington (above with Galahad and promoter Frank Warren) said: “I haven’t mentioned it as much as he has so it’s not pecking away at my head, it’s pecking away at his head.
“I’ve looked in his eyes before and he knows what it’s like to look in mine. He’ll have it in his head that I’ve got that over him and I’ll make it a third.”
While both fighters hold unbeaten records in their professional careers, the contest will be a markedly significant step up for Galahad.
He faced a hostile atmosphere Glove affair: Carl
Frampton and Josh Warrington at a press conference open to the public in Warrington’s home city of Leeds to announce the fight yesterday and is likely to be the underdog when they face off in the ring.
How he reacts to adversity could be key, but Warrington added: “We don’t know (how Galahad will respond to pressure), he doesn’t know — how can he know?
“He’s never been the main event fighter, he’s never walked down the ramp in front of thousands baying for his blood.
“We’ve had some fighters who’ve loved it, we’ve had some fighters who have crumbled.
“We’re only going to know on the night.” TEAM Ireland, including 21 Ulster athletes, has emerged victorious with an incredible haul of 86 medals at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi.
Having secured 30 gold, 29 silver and 27 bronze medals across a variety of sports, Team Ireland athletes have had huge success in what has been a remarkable week of sport.
Lisburn’s Sarah Louise Rea (19) won badminton gold and said: “I’m having an amazing time, it’s thrilling. I’ve been able to come here, play my best and be who I am and not change.”
Also in badminton, John Doyle (34) from Gorey, Co Wexford and Mary Daly (44) from Delvin, Co Westmeath triumphed with a bronze in mixed doubles.
Swimmer Emma Carlisle (23) from Ballygowan bagged one of the final gold medals for Team Ireland with a fantastic performance in the 100m freestyle that followed a bronze earlier this week.
Peadar Connolly (32) from Newry claimed silver in the 200m backstroke, beating his personal best by eight seconds.
In golf, claiming gold for Team Ireland were Simon Lowry from Loughrea, Co Galway plus Dublin’s Mark Claffey, John Keating and Andrew Simington, with playing partner Phyl Kelleher.
Co Clare’s Mairead Moroney (69) — the oldest athlete at the Games — and playing partner Jean Molony claimed a silver medal.
Scarva golfer Jill Connery (33) received a fourth-place ribbon, having scored an incredible hole in one.
There was pentathlon silver for Conor Meade from Stillorgan; 400m walk silver for Gary O’Sullivan from Kerry; mini javelin bronze for Lucy Dollard of Kilkenny; 100m bronze for Roy Saville from Mayfield, Co Cork; and 4x100m relay bronze for Saville, Meade, Brendan Maguire of Castlemartyr and Dublin’s Alan Power.
Eimear Gannon (22) from Dublin claimed bronze medals in ball, hoops, clubs and ribbon gymnastics events, leading to a fourth-place ribbon as all round athlete.