Tag Archives: Josh Warrington

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing, UK Boxing

JOSH WARRINGTON UPSETS LEE SELBY TO EARN THE IBF FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE IN FRONT OF HOMETOWN FANS LIVE ON SHOWTIME SPORTS SOCIAL PLATFORMS FROM LEEDS, U.K.

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WATCH THE FULL FIGHT: https://s.sho.com/2L5dV4G

 

NEW YORK (May 19, 2018) – Josh Warrington became the new IBF featherweight world champion by upsetting Lee Selby in a split-decision victory. The bout was streamed live to U.S. audiences via the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook Page from Elland Road Football Ground in Leeds, U.K. The judges scored the bout 116-112, 115-113 and 113-115.

 

 

 

Warrington (27-0, 6 KOs), from Leeds, used the energy of the home crowd and established control of the fight from the onset. He was the more aggressive fighter, catching Selby with a clean left hook to the jaw and an equally powerful right hand in the second round. In the same round, Selby, who was making the fifth defense of the IBF title that he earned in 2015, suffered a substantial cut above his left eye from an accidental headbutt. The cut would plague him for the remainder of the fight. In the middle rounds, Warrington continued the barrage to the head of Selby, who was taken to the corner in the sixth round for inspection after a second accidental headbutt but was allowed to continue. (Click HERE to watch the accidental headbutt)

 

 

 

Selby (26-2, 9 KOs), of Cardiff, Wales, showed the experience and skills that made him champion in the later rounds despite the blood flowing down his face. He was able to regain his composure, establish his jab and land several impressive combinations, doing enough to earn the win in the eyes of one judge. But in the eyes of Warrington, who becomes Leeds’ first ever world champion, it was clear who the victor was. (Click HERE to watch Warrington’s reaction to victory)

 

 

 

“I can’t put into words how I feel. I got into the ring tonight with the expectation of the city on my shoulders,” said Warrington. “I outboxed the boxer tonight.

 

 

 

“I’m overcome with emotion. We worked on gameplans but that all went out of the window and it was sheer grit and determination and this crowd got me through tonight.”

 

 

 

Following Carl Frampton’s victory over Nonito Donaire last month, Warrington’s victory was the second of four high-stakes featherweights’ fights in quick succession on SHOWTIME platforms featuring seven of the consensus top-10 ranked featherweights, including three world champions and four former multi-division champions. Also on Saturday night, WBC World Champion Gary Russell Jr. defends his belt against Joseph Diaz live on SHOWTIME and on June 9, Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares will meet live on SHOWTIME in a highly anticipated rematch for the WBA Featherweight World Title.

 

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LEE SELBY vs. JOSH WARRINGTON FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN ADVANCE OF IBF FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE BOUT

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 This Saturday, May 19 LIVE on SHOWTIME Sports® YouTube Channel & SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook Page

 

NEW YORK (May 15, 2018) – Featherweight world champion Lee Selby and undefeated contender Josh Warrington took questions from the media at Tuesday’s final press conference days ahead of their clash for the IBF Featherweight World Title this Saturday, May 19. The main event bout from Elland Road Football Ground in Leeds, England will stream live to U.S. audiences via SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook Page. (See links and embed codes below).

 

 

 

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® livestream will begin at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT with coverage provided by BT Sport and BoxNation and featuring commentary by U.K. sportscasters John Rawling (blow-by-blow) and former featherweight world champion Barry Jones (analysis).

 

 

 

Selby (26-1, 9 KOs), of Cardiff, Wales has held the IBF Featherweight Title since 2015 when he wrested it from Evgeny Gradovich with an eighth-round TKO. He has since made four successful defenses, the latest being a unanimous decision over Eduardo Ramirez last December.

 

 

 

Warrington (26-0, 6 KOs), who will be fighting in his hometown of Leeds, won the British Featherweight Title in just his twelfth outing in 2012 and the Commonwealth Championship in 2013.  He defeated Dennis Ceylan via stoppage in the 10th round in his last outing to earn his shot at the IBF title.

 

 

 

Following Carl Frampton’s victory over Nonito Donaire last month, this will be the second of four high-stakes featherweights’ fights on SHOWTIME® platforms featuring seven of the consensus top-10 ranked featherweights, including three world champions and four former multi-division champions. Also on Saturday night, WBC World Champion Gary Russell Jr. will defend his belt against Joseph Diaz live on SHOWTIME and on June 9, Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares will meet live on SHOWTIME in a highly anticipated rematch for the WBA Featherweight World Title.

 

 

 

The livestream of Selby vs. Warrington will precede Saturday evening’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® split-site telecast (10:05 p.m. ET/PT) that features Russell Jr. vs. Diaz from the MGM National Harbor in Maryland and WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson defending his title against two-division world champion Badou Jack from Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

 

 

 

Below is what Selby, Warrington and their respective trainers had to say at today’s press conference:

 

 

 

Lee Selby

“I’m the world champion and a world champion should be ready and willing to defend his title anywhere in the world. It’s only five hours up the road from where I live so it’s not so much of a lion’s den to me.

 

 

 

“This is just another defense for me. It’s another fight. I treat every opponent the same. I don’t train for a certain style or a certain opponent. I prepare to get myself right and whatever happens that night, I know I’ve done the best I can to make myself ready.

 

 

 

“Some experts say that his style is going to give me a problem but other experts say his style is tailormade for me. That’s the great thing about boxing. It’s an opinionated sport.

 

 

 

“I’m no Muhammad Ali, I can’t predict the round I’m going to win in, but I just see myself winning. If I didn’t, then I shouldn’t be here. If you’re a professional boxer and you don’t have the determination to become a world champion, then you shouldn’t be in the game.

 

 

 

“Having Carl Frampton in attendance won’t be a distraction at all. But if I come out on top on Saturday, he is who I want next. I would want to go straight into that fight in Belfast.

 

 

 

“I’m not going to instigate an argument like he’s been doing. I’m a humble guy. He was running his mouth in the first press conference. Maybe the guys in Leeds want you to win, but the rest of the country is hoping that I win. People dislike you.”

 

 

 

Josh Warrington

“I’m very relaxed. We had a bit of fun at the last press conference and the interviews. I feel like I don’t need to say anything else. The past few months, I’ve put my body through hell. I give absolutely everything I have every time I go into the gym. I give 100 percent. After all the talk about me and Lee potentially fighting, it came down to this camp and I gave it everything.

 

 

 

“I talk a lot about destiny. A few years ago, we had the chance to fight for a world title and it didn’t come off for me, and now I have an opportunity again. With how things have gone, anything could have happened in those couple of years. Lee could have moved weight or gotten beat but it’s come around how I always dreamed it and planned it. I always wanted to fight for a world title at Elland Road and it’s here.

 

 

 

“I’ve dreamt about this so many times, I’m just ready to go. There’s no more need for talking. On Saturday night, I get to punch him in the face. This is beyond dreams, especially since I’ve been written off. I’m just carried on going and the fans have stuck behind me. They’re very loyal and we do this together. After Saturday night I’ll be known as Leeds’ first world champion.

 

 

 

“I’m able to adapt to any style. I’m known as a come-forward pressure fighter but I’ve always been able to adapt and do what I have to do to win. I’m willing to go so far. I just want this so bad. For everything I’ve been through, it all leads up to this fight. I’m going to give every ounce of energy in my body to win that world title.

 

 

 

“Carry on with your pictures and everything else with that belt this week, because it’s staying here pal. Once it comes here, that world title is staying.”

 

 

 

Tony Borg, Lee Selby’s Trainer

“Training has been first class. He’s put everything into it, he doesn’t mess around outside of the gym. His life is all boxing. Training has gone perfectly as it always does. I think a lot is being put on how he’s going to deal with this hostile crowd – he’s going to thrive on it, believe me.

 

 

 

“I’m not just confident, I’m 101 percent certain that Lee Selby will go out there and thrive on the hostilities. Josh is very good fighter, but Lee’s an elite fighter. He’s a level above Josh, I believe.”

 

 

 

Sean O’Hagan, Josh Warrington’s Trainer

“Every trainer will tell you that they’ve had the best camp ever. What I will say is that you prepare for the fight in front of you. We’re preparing for Lee specifically. This camp has been so relaxed, it’s flowed so well. There’s been no flaws. We’re all very relaxed.

 

 

 

“We’ve done a little bit extra sparring because Lee has a style that requires it. Let’s not forget, he’s a very good fighter. Our preparation has been so good. We’ve had really good sparring and have covered every aspect of training. We’ve done more. We’ve thought about it more. We’ve gone deeper into things. I can count on one hand the amount of times he’s been hit clean in all of the rounds we’ve done of sparring.”

 

 

 

SATURDAY’S FIGHT: 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT (note: start time is approximate)

SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Event Page: https://s.sho.com/2L5dV4G

 

 

 

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing. To become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

boxing, UK Boxing

Joel Brunker Set to Flip the Script in England Tomorrow Night Against Unbeaten Warrington

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‘Selby vs. Warrington Will Have to Wait. It’ll be me re-matching Selby Next.”
Australian featherweight contender Joel Brunker says that all talk of his next opponent, undefeated Josh Warrington, facing current IBF Champion Lee Selby in an all-UK showdown will be moot when he hands Warrington his first defeat tomorrow night (Saturday, September 5).
Brunker (28-1, 16 KOs) from New South Wales will face hometown hero Warrington (21-0, 4 KOs) for the WBC International and Commonwealth (British Empire) Featherweight Championships at the First Direct Arena, Leeds, Yorkshire in the United Kingdom.
“The media over here keeps talking about Josh Warrington fighting Lee Selby next in an all-English showdown, but they aren’t focusing enough on what’s about to happen,” said Brunker. “I’m coming in tomorrow night to take Warrington out!”
Brunker’s only career loss was to Selby in October 2014. In his last fight, Brunker picked up the International Boxing Organization Oceania Super Featherweight Championship by dropping and stopping Ray Laspinas of the Philippines in two rounds last February at the Richmond Club in Richmond, New South Wales, Australia.
“What they should be getting ready for is my rematch with Selby because that’s what’s going to happen and this time I’ll be ready for him,” Brunker continued.
“They seem to be overlooking Joel somewhat over here and talking about the Selby fight as though it’s a foregone conclusion,” said Brunker’s co-promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions (along with Adam Wilcock of FightCard Promotions). “It’s a huge mistake on their part to overlook Joel because he’s coming in here to set up a rematch with Selby by beating this undefeated guy.”
About Greg Cohen Promotions
One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.
Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.
Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen first made promotional headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.
In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney.
Cohen currently promotes multiple world champion and boxing superstar Zab Judah, women’s boxing superstar Amanda Serrano, and former world champion Kendall Holt, as well as current world-rated contenders including top undefeated cruiserweight Lateef Kayode, long-time elite middleweight “Mean” Joe Greene, lightweight KO artist Ismael Barroso, top super featherweight Arash Usmanee, Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis; WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Australian lightweight prospect Josh King.
Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including CBS Sports Network, HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.
For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/GCPBoxing. Twitter: @GCPBoxing.