JOSH GONE TO NEVER-SPOONS
THE BEN & Jerry’s are officially off the menu – that is how seriously Josh Warrington is taking his pursuit of the big scalps.
The Leeds Warrior vacated his IBF world title last month, after being ordered to undertake a mandatory defence against Kid Galahad.
Warrington, 30, wants to face mightier featherweight beasts – China’s Can Xu and US star Gary Russell Jr are in his sights, with The Ring magazine belt his ultimate goal.
He was due to fight Xu this week but that fell through and he now faces little-known Mexican Mauricio Lara at Wembley Arena on Saturday 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, either.
“Normally, if I’ve been down – I’ve watched Leeds lose, for instance – then I’ll turn to a tub of Ben & Jerry’s... a Caramel Chew Chew goes down particularly well.
“But I’ve had to switch my head straight back on. I’ve still got a fight coming.
“No-one wants to give up a belt – but over here I’ve beaten Lee Selby, I’ve beaten Carl Frampton, I’ve beaten Kid Galahad.
“I want the big fights and I’ve had to vacate to get them. But I won’t be switching off on Saturday. Upsets happen, and at 30 I can’t afford to have one.
“This Mexican is going to see this as a massive opportunity to bag a name.
“So I’m really sharp. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a massive world title fight. That’s the mindset I need.
“On paper, he shouldn’t cause me problems but
I’ve got to turn up like an undefeated former world champion and deliver a top performance.”
Warrington, who normally loves to feed off the crowd’s energy, says he’s going to get into the zone by asking the cameraman Steve to join him in a rendition of ‘Marching On Together’ – Leeds United’s club anthem – on his ringwalk.
But he reassures his supporters that despite a 16-month lay-off since stopping Sofiane Takoucht, he’s in good shape.
He said: “I feel fantastic. My sparring has been excellent. The hunger is there. I’m relaxed.
“I’m a bit of a stats geek. I’ve kept training logs for the past six years. So I know when I’ve felt fittest.
“The Selby and Frampton fights were at a very high pace. If I’m doing my runs at around the same times, I know I’m fit enough to do that.
“I know that 130-150 rounds of sparring is my optimum number, too.
“And that’s where I am – I can’t wait.”