Josh Warrington's rousing speech as boxer eyes world title unification and Leeds United promotion

IBF featherweight champion of the world Warrington was named sportsman of the year at Thursday evening's 2020 Leeds Sports Awards which celebrated the city's achievements across all age groups, spectrums and sports at first direct arena.

Over 20 awards were presented by BBC Look North's Tanya Arnold as the city geared up for a particularly huge year in sport featuring the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the summer.

Warrington, meanwhile, is eyeing another world title belt as the Leeds United Football Club that he so dearly supports also closes in on potential promotion to the Premier League.

Providing one of his most passionate speeches yet upon collecting his award, Warrington said: "I look around this room and I see nothing but inspiration.

"Some young lass came up to me and asked for a picture and she said 'what's it like being the most famous person in Leeds?'

"I'm not the most famous person in Leeds!

"I don't have a massive entourage, all right, I have an entourage tonight but you'll still find me going to Tesco's in my slippers.

"There's nowt special about me, it's just I have just worked at my craft and you look around in the air and there is something in the air.

"Some people will say it's talent in the air, some people will say there's momentum in the air, some people will say there's some cheap Paco Rabanne in the air.

"I'll say Leeds is in the air. It's Leeds.

"Look around, we used to be a city just known for its football and its rugby and its cricket and the rugby have started off well, the cricket boys are doing well and hopefully Leeds United are back where they are meant to be in the Premier League.

"But we are branching out, we are not just doing them main sports now.

"Obviously there are wins in the boxing but are absolutely smashing the swimming, the gymnastics and everything else that comes with it.

"The Paralympians that were in here tonight, it's fantastic, it's awe inspiring and I absolutely love it.

"I've had a load of people coming up to me saying 'you are inspiring, you do well, you are a good leader for the city, blah, blah, blah.'

"I don't know, I am just doing what I am doing and people are just seeing hard work and that's all it is - hard work and perseverance.

"It's going to be a massive year for a lot of people.

"You have got World Championships coming up, big competitions, you have got the Olympics and I will just give a little bit of advice from my experience...

"If 2020 is your year, enjoy it, embrace it and remain humble. Keep them feet on the ground.

"Have a little slice of that success pie but don't have too much.

"Don't fill your belly, you need to stay hungry and you've got to look for more and more and more.

"Initially, I just wanted to win a British title and I wanted to headline a fight at the arena.

"But I used that hunger to go forward for European and World titles and now we are looking at becoming one of the greatest fighters from out of this country.

"I'm blowing smoke up my own backside there but the record speaks for itself though you have got to remain humble because you never know who you are inspiring.

"I go about my daily business but I have inspired loads tonight so no matter if your Twitter following goes into the millions, if you get your blue tick and this, that and the other, keep your feet on the ground and just strive for your goals.

"And if you don't, if it's not your year, it's not the end of the world.

"We had Simon Grayson on our table and he has been sacked by more clubs than there is in the Championship and he was still sat there with a smile on his face.

"Anything in life worth having is hard in a life these days when everything is instant.

"You want a new pair of trainers tomorrow and you have next day delivery so it's there on your doorstep.

"You want your shopping and you can get a full shopping trolley in your house. You don't have to leave your house.

"Everyone wants instant success but it's hard graft, hard dedication, hard determination and perseverance that gets you to the very, very top.

"So if it's not your year, don't give up hope. Learn from that and go on forward to the next year and then keep on going until you are successful."