Josh wants to take chance against champs

JOSH WARRINGTON’S promoter Eddie Hearn is negotiating with Can Xu AND Gary Russell Junior as he tries to land the IBF featherweight champion a unification fight in April.

Leeds star Warrington, 30, was left devastated last week whenwba top dog Xu pulled out of a proposed February fight.

Desperate to return with a bang after more than a year out of the ring,warrington (left) must now face Mexican Mauricio Lara in a tune-up on February 13. But Hearn is hopeful it will be the first of three or four fights for the popular Yorkshireman this year.

And Warrington could even vacate his IBF belt if it means getting a shot at the Chinese champion or America’s WBC champ Russell Junior straight after Lara.

Hearn said: “I wouldn’t say it was a financial issue but Xu genuinely wants to fight in front of fans. He doesn’t want to fight behind closed doors.

“Josh wants to fight the top guys in the division and he wants to win other belts.

“After February 13 the IBF title could be vacated if it means taking a step up and fighting Can Xu. But also now we’re in negotiations to fight Gary Russell Junior at the end of April.

“Josh needs to be flexible with the belts to step up and take those challenges.”