Juggernaut Josh is on Hatton’s path to glory
JOSH WARRINGTON is to Leeds what Ricky Hatton was to Manchester and the time has come for the wider public to embrace the best featherweight on Planet Boxing in the way they did the Hitman. The Yorkshire Warrior produced one of the most explosive performances by a British boxer in recent times to retain his world title on Saturday night. Warrington’s hometown crowd were in raptures as he annihilated Frenchman Sofiane Takoucht inside two super-charged rounds. ‘I love Ricky Hatton,’ said the man of the moment in his jubilant dressing room at the First Direct Arena. ‘An inspiration to me and so exciting that he had that huge following that spread out from Manchester. Maybe that might happen for me. Would be nice.’ Whether, like Hatton, he will be followed to Las Vegas one day by 30,000 fanatical believers will probably depend on him finding an opponent as high profile as Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. Meanwhile, promoter Frank Warren, who also piloted Hatton to glory, is reaching out to the wearers of other alphabelts for Warrington to add to his IBF title. First up is likely to be Chinese sensation Xu Can, the WBA regular champion, at the Elland Road home of Warrington’s beloved Leeds United in May. Warrington has been itching to get his fists on rival champions but the hell he inflicted on Takoucht might discourage even the best of them from sharing a ring with him. ‘Josh can grow into one of the greatest of all British fighters,’ says Warren. Greater than Hatton? ‘Listen,’ replies Warren. ‘I love Ricky, too. He was an amazing fighter. But he did go off enjoying himself between fights. With Josh we have similar excitement but in a totally dedicated boxer.’ At which Warrington chuckles: ‘Once we’ve done our thing here a few times and then gone on to Vegas, then I can party like Ricky.’