GRUDGE MATCH
Warrington and Galahad set for grudge match
Josh Warrington wants to unify titles, but first he must get past Kid Galahad
IBF FEATHERWEIGHT champion Josh Warrington wants to unify further world titles but first he will be forced to make a mandatory defence against Kid Galahad.
Promoter Frank Warren has won the purse bids for that fight and it is expected to be screened on BT Sport. For now, thankfully, he plans to keep it away from a Box Office platform.
It means a detour for Warrington, who after thrilling wins over Lee Selby (to win the title in an upset last year) and Carl Frampton (in another stirring performance) had been looking to major clashes with WBO champion Oscar Valdez or WBA ruler Leo Santa Cruz.
“I’m involved with a guy who wants to fight the best and the best are Santa Cruz and Valdez,” Frank Warren told Boxing News.
He also insists that Warrington deserves credit, not least from this magazine. “How on earth is that fight with him [Warrington] and Frampton [only] number 10 [in Boxing News’ Fights of the Year]. It’s levels, we’re talking about world class level, behind a fight that wasn’t even on TV,” the promoter said in reference to Jason Welborn’s first victory over Tommy Langford finishing higher. “I’m talking about world class levels, I don’t get that.”
“I know when I see a good fight and a quality fight between two individuals,” Warren added. “I know what I’m talking about because I’ve been doing this every day and I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
(It’s worth noting that Boxing News did have Warrington as the British Fighter of the Year and among the leading three in the World Fighter of the Year).
Warrington, meanwhile, has made it clear he is not fighting Galahad because he wants to, but because he has to.
That doesn’t mean he is worried about the Sheffield man’s skills. Instead, it’s a mark of how much the Leeds fighter is turned off by Galahad’s attitude, behaviour and past misdemeanours.
Galahad is undefeated in 26 fights and the IBF’S number one-ranked contender. But, crucial to the storyline of this fight, his ascent to a world title shot was interrupted by a two-year suspension (later reduced to 18 months) from UK Anti-doping in 2015 following a positive test for a banned steroid.
Galahad professed his innocence at every turn, claiming his drink had been spiked by his brother after a disagreement over money, yet Warrington and UKAD weren’t having any of it.
“I don’t like this cocky persona he’s got, and I don’t like his attitude,” Warrington told the Yorkshire Post.
“When he talks about his drugs ban it’s like he doesn’t have any remorse. When you’re in athletics or something like that, people cheating means other athletes can lose out on medals. The difference in boxing is that you’re going in there to hurt each other. I don’t like it and he’s a disgrace to the sport in my eyes.
“I wanted to be unifying belts, but I’ve got Kid Galahad in the way of that now so it’s all the motivation I need. I can’t overlook him, and I’d never do that with anybody.”
Not quite ready to step up to world level are Anthony Yarde and Sam Bowen,
who are both in action on February 23 at the Leicester Arena. Bowen’s original opponent Ronnie Clarke will have to be replaced, and Anthony Yarde will now fight Travis Reeves.
“We’re in the Sam Bowen business and we’ll be making a big fight and a meaningful fight for him,” Warren said. “I think he’s a quality operator and I was very impressed with how he boxed last time out against a very awkward opponent.”
The promoter can see him challenging for a world title eventually, but not too soon. “He’s only had 14 fights, get another four under his belt and he won’t be far off that’s for sure,” Warren said. “We’ll see what happens [with Anthony Yarde]. He’s a quality operator, who’s had limited experience that we keep banging on about.”
“Anyone can make world title fights and throw people in the deep end, there’s been a fodder machine going out to the States for the last six, seven months. Brits going out and getting the s**t kicked out of them.”
‘I DON’T LIKE HIS COCKY PERSONA AND I DON’T LIKE HIS ATTITUDE’