JOSH: THIS CAN BE MY HITMAN MOMENT Warrington hopes stunning victory over Selby can do for him what beating Kostya Tszyu did for Hatton
JOSH WARRINGTON claims dethroning Lee Selby to become world champion could be his “Ricky Hattonkostya Tszyu” moment.
Warrington saw parallels with that June night in 2005 when Hatton made Tszyu quit on his stool to launch himself as a global star.
Like the Hitman, Warrington has won an IBF title in front of 22,000 passionate fans against a seasoned champion and hopes his victory at Elland Road will also propel him to Las Vegas.
Warrington spoke to Hatton’s former trainer Billy Graham about that night before beating Selby on a split decision and the new featherweight king said: “I hope this can be my moment like it was for Ricky.
“The night he beat Kostya Tszyu he became a national hero. I don’t think I’m going to become a national hero overnight, but people might start giving me a bit more credit.
“When I was younger people used to say that one day I’d fight at Elland Road. I’ve done it now.
“They also asked: ‘When are you taking us to Vegas?’ I was in Vegas last year for Framptonon Santa Cruz and that whet my appetite. They said when Ricky went over it was barmy but they would get the shock of their lives if the Leeds fans went over.”
Carl Frampton, who was ringside, would love Warrington to be his dance partner for his big Windsor Park show on August 18.
Promoter Frank Warren would prefer to keep his two box-office stars apart until next year and wants Warrington to make a couple of defences at home in Leeds at the First Direct Arena. Before any of that, he has more mundane matters to attend to – wife Natasha has told him he is on nappy duty for their three-month-old twin daughters.
“Natasha has already said I’m on night duty and I will be changing nappies in the middle of the night,” he said.
“Having my little girls is fantastic. It’s been nice to come home from training after putting my body through hell and seeing those little faces smiling.”
Warrington, 27, was superb Saturday and, fuelled by his raucous support, he drew Selby into a tear-up because of his relentless pressure.
That was not the ideal gameplan for Selby, who suffered cuts near both eyes from head clashes to leave his face a bloody mess.
The Welshman never got his longer jab going and Warrington repeatedly caught him with left hooks.
One judge scored it 115-113 to Selby, but the other two saw sense and gave it to Warrington 115-113 and 116-112 to extend his record to 27-0 and give the proud city of Leeds its first world champion.