Parenthood an added incentive for world title hopeful Warrington

A fighter already hungry for success will now be more determined than ever to beat tonight’s opponent Dennis Ceylan, declaring: “This kid is going to be trying to take food out of my kids’ mouths.”

Unbeaten Leeds boxer Warrington will take on Danish challenger Ceylan at First Direct Arena this evening for a Final Eliminator for a shot at the IBF World Featherweight Championship belt held by Selby.

The winner of Saturday night’s bout in Leeds will then be in line to take on Selby in a fight that would have to take place by next March.

Warrington has long since dreamed of becoming a world champion, and now says that the prospect of becoming a young dad to twins has given him an even bigger incentive to chase boxing’s glories.

Warrington told the YEP: “My missus is pregnant and we are due a couple of twins.

“I found about two months ago and at first we obviously just thought it was a little baby.

“But it’s two identical twins and I am over the moon.

“I am chuffed to bits, we are married, we have got a house and it’s the next progressive step in life and if I needed one then it’s even more of an incentive now to win this fight.

“This kid is going to be trying to take food out of my kids’ mouth, that’s how I look at it now.

“Winning world titles and getting to the big pay days and stadium fights, you are looking at million pound fights and I am not just fighting for myself now, I am fighting for them.”

Warrington will be chasing the 26th win of his so far perfect career this evening and the 26-year-old is a long odds on favourite to see off Danish challenger Ceylan.

Warrington, though, says he will be as fired up as ever in a bid to set up an eagerly-awaited showdown with Welshman with Selby next spring.

“I treat every fight like it’s my last fight,” said the Yorkshireman.

“I stay in a hotel before I go to the venue and I hug my missus and give her a kiss like I am never going to see her again.

“That’s the way I treat my fights.

“As soon as I walk into that venue, it’s all or nothing.”

The Leeds star will also be joined by two more of the city’s sporting favourites with outgoing Leeds Rhinos Grand Final winner Danny McGuire and Leeds United full-back Gaetano Berardi joining the featherweight for his ring walk.

Berardi has quickly earned himself a reputation as a no-nonsense hard man at Elland Road and Warrington joked: “If I don’t chin him then Gaetano will be in and chinning him, certainly!

“But obviously Danny McGuire played out of his skin in the Grand Final and with it being his last season at Leeds it all made sense to have him ring walking.

“I asked him a couple of weeks back if he was coming to the fight and he said yes and I said could you join us on the ring walk, I’d be honoured if you said yes and he said he’d love to, so that’s massive.

“And Gaetano has become a bit of a cult hero in the stands with his no nonsense 50-50s and his die hard attitude.

“I think them two will add a little bit more atmosphere and a little bit more spice and it will get me pumped up.

“I don’t want to be letting down a Grand Final winner and a Leeds legend and someone who could be potentially become a big Leeds United legend and part of a promotion winning team.

“I don’t want to let them down and I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of them so I need to make sure that I get the win for them, for my crowd, for my friends and for my family.”

Tickets are still available from the First Direct Arena Box office: 0844 248 1585.