JOSH WANTS TO HIT VEGAS JACKPOT

Winner Warrington out to do ‘a Hatton’

JOSH WARRINGTON hopes his stunning win over Lee Selby will prove to be his Ricky Hatton moment.

The Leeds hero reckons his loyal fans could be soon hitting the bright lights of Las Vegas to see him in action after he beat Selby on points.

Warrington upset the odds to out-fight and out-box Selby and claim the IBF featherweight title at his beloved Elland Road.

And the new world champion hopes the win will now catapult him to stardom – just like Hatton in 2005 when he beat Kostya Tszyu to claim the IBF light-welterweight title in his home city of Manchester.

Saturday’s win had a similar feel for unbeaten Warrington, who said: “The night Ricky beat Kostya Tszyu he became a bit of a national hero.

Shock

“I don’t think I’m going to become a national hero overnight but people might start giving me a bit more credit for what I have achieved.

“When I was a young lad people used to say, ‘You will fight in here at Elland Road one day’. We’ve done it now.

“They also used to say, ‘When are you taking us to Vegas?’.

“They said when Ricky went over it was barmy, they will get the shock of their lives if Leeds fans went over.

“My plan was always to win a world title, defend it, have a couple of away days – possibly Vegas – and knock it on the head. But we’ll see.”

Warrington’s next step looks likely to be a defence of his newly-acquired title at Leeds Arena in the autumn.

If Selby had won, it would have been likely he would have faced Carl Frampton at Windsor Park in Belfast.

But while Warrington is ready to give his fans an “away day in Belfast”, that fight is now likely to be in the summer of next year instead.

Warrington celebrated with a fry-up and a pint of Guinness before returning to wife Natasha, who gave birth to twin girls 12 weeks ago.

He added: “Natasha has already said I’m on night duty and I’ll be changing nappies in the middle of the night.

“I could die a happy man now. How can you top that? I was doubted at English and British level and wasn’t supposed to go further than that.” Selby suffered two nasty cuts in the fight but fought bravely and looked like he could get back into contention.

Canadian judge Alan Davis somehow gave it to Selby at 115-113. But Phil Edwards (116-112) and Frank Lombardi (115-113) ensured that the right man won.

Selby will move up in weight after struggling to make the 9st fight limit. °

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