EDITOR’S LETTER
The latest British boxing poster boy
WELL, who’d a thunk it. The UK, after hosting its seventh stadium fight in four years, is leading the way in world boxing and Josh Warrington vs Carl Frampton is suddenly one of the hottest tickets our nation can offer. But as Frampton seemed to realise in the aftermath of Warrington’s stunning points victory over Lee Selby to lift the IBF featherweight title, the showdown may not be immediately forthcoming, despite the Northern Irishman being dangled like a carrot throughout. What most expected to see – perhaps even Frank Warren, the buoyant promoter of all involved – was a Selby victory, and then an easyto-make scrap with Frampton in Belfast. But with the home fighter’s stirring victory inside an electric Elland Road, it suddenly became apparent that the new king would have no reason to leave his fortress in the near future and Warren may have to invite another belt-holder to Belfast to provide Frampton with the summer world title shot he’s been promised.
The most appealing fights are rarely the easiest to negotiate, but if the promoter wants to make this bout and both boxers really want to fight each other, the obstacles can be cleared. The deliverance of such contests is crucial to sustain the interest in boxing that is currently flying high.
Warren will be keen to keep both parties happy which may mean keeping them apart for the time being. The danger with that, of course, is we may never get to see it at all.
Just ask Lee Selby. For too long the Welshman had quietly gone about his business, overcoming all manner of hardship behind the scenes while winning inside the ring. In Leeds, despite being one of Britain’s longest-running world titlists, he was yet again the B-side, living proof that talent alone is not enough to make you a star.
In Team Selby’s eyes, Warrington was the key for the Welshman to open the door to the big time, a stage that should have been his the moment he dethroned Evgeny Gradovich in 2015.
Talk of a showdown with Frampton had been swirling for years, an opponent many insiders felt would allow Selby to truly shine. At the final hurdle though, the Barry man – bleeding and largely ineffective – was handily beaten (ignore judge Alan Davis’ ludicrous score which somehow had him ahead) by an inspired young challenger.
And whatever happens next, it’s that triumph which must be the defining story of the weekend. Against the odds, in front of a reported 25,000 fans, Warrington delivered a brilliant showing that shut the mouths of those who claimed he didn’t have such a performance in him. His father and trainer Sean O’hagan deserves a mention too, and made up for co-trainer Nick Manners’ stupidity at the weigh-in when he turned up with inflatable sheep to trigger some unsavoury scenes. O’hagan’s input was far more intelligent.
Many presumed that Selby was off-form, weight issues were mentioned afterwards (yet passionately denied on the morning of the fight) and the cuts would not have helped. Unquestionably, he deserves another chance to prove his worth. But to pay too much attention to what Selby did wrong would be to completely disrespect all that Warrington did right.
l TYSON FURY can’t have it both ways. He can’t claim to be the ‘real’ world heavyweight champion and then announce Sefer Seferi as his June 9 opponent. Granted, his two-anda-half years out of the ring allows some leeway, but should also remove his claim to the throne – particularly when one considers why he was forced out in the first place. So, Seferi, a 39-year-old Albanian cruiserweight who is second only to his 41-year-old brother as the best Albanian cruiserweight in the world, is just about acceptable for a fighter trying to find his feet. But if we have to keep hearing that Fury is the ‘real’ world heavyweight champion time and again in the build-up, it’s only fair to label Seferi as one of the worst challengers in history.
l IT’S hard not to feel sorry for Callum Smith, still in the dark regarding the super-middleweight WBSS final. His fans are eager for information, to book tickets to support him, yet Smith still hasn’t been told when, who or where he will be fighting.