Josh has plot to be cream of the crop
THE ice cream can wait – that’s how seriously Josh Warrington is taking his road back to glory.
When the Leeds Warrior vacated the IBF world title last month after being ordered to undertake a mandatory defence against Kid Galahad, he did so with his eyes on a bigger prize.
Warrington, 30, wants a match-up against bigger beasts in the featherweight division.
And Can Xu and Gary Russell Jr are both in his sights with the Ring Magazine belt the ultimate goal.
He was due to fight the former on February 13 but that fell through when the authorities stepped in. He now fights little-known Mauricio Lara at the Wembley Arena instead.
Warrington said: “It was a difficult decision to vacate – and it wasn’t like I could drown my sorrows in a tub of ice cream.
“Normally, if I’ve been down – if I’ve watched Leeds lose, for instance – then I’ll turn to a tub of Ben and Jerry’s! I couldn’t do that with this.
“I’ve had to switch my head back on. I’ve got a fight coming on February 13.
“No one wants to give up a belt. I’ve had three successful defences of it – four if you count winning it – but the way both me and my team look at it, we are taking a different route.
“I have not lost it in the ring. I’ve lost it to the politics.
“It’s a means to an end for us. I’m not going to be defined by that one belt.
“I want the big fights against the likes of Can Xu and Gary Russell Jr – they’re the fights I want and I’ve had to vacate to get them.
“Ultimately, down the line it will be worth it.”
Warrington has not fought since stopping Sofiane Takoucht in October 2009 but said: “I feel fantastic. My sparring has been excellent.
“The hunger is there. I’m relaxed.”