Boxer Josh Warrington aims to become a two-weight world champion

Josh Warrington: After victory over Sofiane Takoucht at Leeds Arena. Picture: Steve Riding

JOSH WARRINGTON will have one overriding thought when reminiscing about 2019 as the clock nears twelve on New Year’s Eve.

“I’m still world champion,” says the Leeds featherweight, who has hit many a milestone in the final year of the Noughties.

A 30th fight in his 10th year as a professional, a 30th victory and a 10th bout at First Direct Arena – all ending with the IBF featherweight belt still around his waist.

Plenty to smile about for the 29-year-old husband to Natasha and young dad to twin girls who will also make the most of some precious family time over this festive period.

Josh Warrington knocks down Sofiane
Takoucht for a second time earlier this year. — Josh Warrington knocks down Sofiane Takoucht for a second time earlier this year.

After all, there was scant time for Christmas 2018 with the featherweight making a first defence of his title against the renowened Carl Frampton on December 22.

“Christmas didn’t really exist in the Warrington household last year,” admits the Frank Warren fighter. “I came out of the ring on the Saturday and the following Tuesday it was Christmas.”

This year, having not fought since October, things have been different. Yet Warrington will not sit still for long with the Yorkshireman determined to unify the featherweight division in his next fight and even setting his sights on becoming a two-weight world champion in the longer term.

Just over 10 years after his first fight, Warrington admits he has already exceeded all of his initial expectations by not just becoming IBF featherweight world champion in defeating Lee Selby at Elland Road in May, 2018 but also in making three successful defences of that belt.

Some going, yet if Warrington had had his way he would already have either the WBA, WBC or WBO featherweight belt added to his collection, too.

After being forced to take on mandatory challenger Kid Galahad six months after his first successful defence of his belt against Frampton, Warrington wanted another title fight against then WBA king Leo Santa Cruz, WBO holder Oscar Valdez or WBC supremo Gary Russell Jr.

Instead, with any of those fights proving difficult to sort, Warrington found himself taking on lesser known Sofiane Takoucht at First Direct Arena on October 12.

Two rounds later, via a stunning knockout, it was job done and, all in all, leaving plenty for Warrington to be satisfied with approaching the end of a brilliant decade.