Why world champion Josh Warrington refuses to set boundaries

There is not a lot left for the IBF featherweight champion to win at the 122lb mark.

He claimed his first belt, the English title, in 2012, three years after turning professional and his professional record now stands at an impressive 30-0.

On his way to the top, the ‘Leeds Warrior’ has also become a Commonwealth, British, European and International champion.

His next goal is to unify the featherweight division, with terms agreed for a fight with WBA champion Can Xu, in Leeds, later this year.

No date has been set due to the uncertainty caused by the outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

After his meeting with Xu, Warrington has revealed he would consider stepping up in weight class in an attempt to become a two-weight world champion.

Carl Frampton, whom Warrington beat to defend his IBF belt in Manchester in December, 2018 in a British ‘fight of the year’, has been a world champion at two weights and the Leeds boxer sees no reason why he cannot replicate the feat.

Warrington would look to step up to super featherweight but first must deal with any mandatory defences of his IBF title if he beats Xu.

“I will have mandatory fights to deal with and that but the plan is to make as much history as possible,” said Warrington.

“I want to keep proving people wrong. This is legacy territory we are going into.

“There have been a few world champions in Britain in recent years but not many have gone on to unify the division and then become a two-weight world champion. It is only the very best, the cream of the crop, who do it. Being world champion is a great accolade in itself but who knows how far you can go, it is only you who puts the boundaries on yourself.”

Warrington is not putting any restrictions on his future.

He is happy to fight for more world titles at featherweight, with American boxers Gary Russell Junior and Shakour Stevenson holding the WBC and WBO titles, respectively.

“I just want to keep pushing forward as much as I can,” Warrington added.

“I will keep pushing as long as my timeframe allows me to. I think I would like to finish at the top.

“The initial goal is to unify the division and then if I can win another belt by going straight into a fight with the likes of Gary Russell Junior then I will do.

“But if not, become a two-weight world champion; it just adds to the legacy.”

Warrington already has his eye on some fighters at super featherweight. Joseph Diaz won the IBF super featherweight title at the end of January after moving up from featherweight.

The California-based fighter was beaten to the WBC featherweight title by Russell in May, 2018 but was crowned WBA champion at the same weight later that year.

Warrington has tracked Diaz’s progress and is confident that is a bout he could win.

If he was successful he would become the first two-weight world champion from Leeds.

Elsewhere, fellow fighter Frampton has all-but agreed terms for a fight with WBO super featherweight champion Jamal Herring, a bout that Warrington will be keeping a keen eye on if it goes ahead.

“It would be super feather, there are some exciting fights up there,” he added.

“Joseph Diaz has made that transition and he was won the IBF belt. A few years ago me and Joseph Diaz were rumoured to be getting matched up but it never came off. He has gone to win a world title in that division and I believe I can beat him.

“We will see what happens. The initial goal is to get Can Xu out of the way and finish the business at featherweight and then go from there.”

Warrington’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is hopeful the clash with Xu – China’s only reigning boxing world champion – will be able to take place at Emerald Headingley.

Both fighters have vowed to take the fight to each other, making it an exciting prospect for when it finally goes ahead.