IT’S WAR OF THE WORDS
Frampton past his best, says Josh
JOSH WARRINGTON reckons Carl Frampton is past his best and will not be able to live with his pace on Saturday.
The IBF world featherweight champion is set to make his highly anticipated first title defence against Frampton at the Manchester Arena.
Warrington defeated Welshman Lee Selby for the belt earlier this year and the Leeds boxer’s journey to being world champion is told in a new DVD, Fighting For A City.
Warrington faces the division’s No.1 in another Battle of Britain clash that will lead to a unification clash against WBO champion Oscar Valdez, of Mexico, next year.
Belfast boy Frampton, 31, is a two-weight world champion who has three wins since losing his WBA belt on points in a rematch with Leo Santa Cruz almost two years ago.
But unbeaten Warrington has not been impressed by Frampton’s recent form and especially his last display, a ninth-round stoppage of Aussie Luke Jackson in August.
And while he won’t ease up in his preparations he believes the years are taking their toll on the Northern Irishman, saying he is “no spring chicken anymore”.
Warrington, 28, said: “Everyone was saying how dominant he was against Jackson.
“But they were taking their eyes off him in between rounds when he was shaking his head and wasn’t happy with himself.
“I always like to think and prepare to fight a monster. If you look over that you start training at 75 per cent. I’m out to think Carl is in his prime – but he has been a pro a long time, been in some hard fights, had a long lay-off, been put down and has a lot going on outside of boxing.
“He’s not a spring chicken anymore and it all takes its toll.
“Timing is everything in this game and he knows that you have peak years and a time when you start to slow down.
“When you have to dig deep, when it’s not going for, you have to find something from somewhere – has he got it still? I don’t know.
“But I do know I’ve got momentum, I’m getting better, my confidence is sky high and I believe I have got what it takes to beat Carl.
“I like to dictate the pace and that’s what will make a great fight.
“I have a high workrate and showed I also have a good boxing brain against Lee Selby.”
Warrington, who used to be called ‘The Tooth Fairy’ because he worked part-time making dentures earlier in his boxing career, lifted the world title in front of thousands at Elland Road in May.
And now he hopes both Championship high flyers Leeds United and himself can both achieve promotions in
2019 – him to the top of the featherweight pile and his hometown club to the topflight.
He added: “I did say when I won the world title, Leeds will be going up.
“It’s not about what happens now but what happens at the end of the season.
“And when I win this fight it will put me up with the best in the division. He’s ranked No.1 in the rankings above me in Britain.
“I’m going to announce myself on the world level with this fight by beating Carl and I want to then unify the titles.
“I would love the fight against Oscar Valdez next year.
“I will show in this fight I belong in the Champions League, not just the Premier League.”