Josh Warrington and Carl Frampton face off on the second leg of their press tour

Josh Warrington and his challenger Carl Frampton faced off on the second leg of their press tourIBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington and his challenger Carl Frampton faced off on the second leg of their press tour.

They meet in a stunning match at the Manchester Arena on Saturday December 22, live and exclusive on BT Sport Box Office.

Warrington’s home city Leeds hosted today’s event with the Carriageworks packed with his fans.

Former two-weight world champion Frampton has home advantage at the final press conference in Belfast tomorrow.

Here are a selection of quotes from today’s presser.

JOSH WARRINGTON

There could be easier fights, but I want the best in the division.

It is going to be deafening in Manchester and we have the Fight of the Year.

It is two fighters having it out, but I will still be world champion at the end of the year.

I won the English and Commonwealth title on the road and going to Manchester where its neutral is no bother. I think the support will be even.

Champion of the world has a lovely sound, but it’s just a title and I believe I can strive for more.

I watched Carl and I see things I can exploit and do things on the night to beat him.

We will come up with three or four game plans and I will adapt.

When the first bell goes respect goes out of the window and we will punch each others head in.

This fight doesn’t need animosity. If I started acting like a bell*** it would be out of character.

I did against Lee Selby because there was bad feeling between us and the teams. Things got nasty.

SEAN O’HAGAN (Warrington’s trainer and Father)

I always knew we had the beating of Lee Selby. The media made him up to be something he wasn’t.

This is a different ball game and a harder fight, but one we’re looking forward to.

When he beat Lee I just whispered, ‘Can we discuss my bonus?’ I’m still waiting so I’ll be having a tenner on Carl.

There is a lot of pay-per-view fights and this the best of the lot. It is a proper fight. Two lads who wont allow themselves to lose.

CARL FRAMPTON

If I win this fight it will mean more than any of my world title wins, because I have been written off.

I want to stick my fingers up to those who wrote me off after the Leo Santa Cruz loss.

People say I’m on slide but since teaming up with trainer Jamie Moore, promoter Frank Warren and MTK these are my prime years.

Josh thinks I’m not what I was and a lot of people think that after the Santa Cruz loss and a short camp for my fight against Horacio Garcia.

In my last two fights I’ve been as good as ever. If Josh wants to think I’m a shadow of my former self he can.

I am not daft and I know what it will be like on the night. It just going to be noise and I will use to my advantage.

Look back at interviews I was doing six years ago and I was counting the days to retirement. It was a job, but now I look forward to the gym.

I wasn’t enjoying it and still beating good fighters. That says a lot about me.

I expect this to be a tough fight and I need to be right physically and mentally.

For the Scott Quigg fight I did 220 rounds of sparring against bigger men, but Jamie has cut that in half and work on tactics and think that was a brilliant session after.

I may need the performance of my life and there isn’t an ounce of quit in either of us. It will be a case of toughening it out.

I will suss him out and work out game plans as the fight goes on.

I don’t have to hate Josh. I like him, but it is a fight and we will do whatever we can to win the fight and shake hands afterwards.

Things will be said in the build-up that will irk each other, but it happens and the only opponent I ever hated was Chris Avalos.

JAMIE MOORE (Carl Frampton’s trainer)

Carl does things that come natural like footwork and anticipation. There is a difference between elite and world class fighters. Carl is elite.

I wouldn’t want to change him in a big way because he was already phenomenal. It is more about decision making and setting tactics. This fight will come down to tactics.

I know nobody will beat Josh without being in a very tough fight, but I feel I have a very talented fighter in Carl.

Josh proved how good he was against Lee Selby and he is more than a pressure fighter. His work-rate will give anybody problems.

Tickets are now on sale for this blockbuster event at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd and are are available to purchase via Ticketmaster and Eventim.

 

WARRINGTON VS FRAMPTON TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Tickets for the upcoming British blockbuster world title fight between IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington and former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton are on sale now.

The clash takes place on neutral territory when they enter the ring inside the Manchester Arena on December 22nd.

Dreams came true for Leeds native Warrington in May when he won his world title by defeating Welshman Lee Selby in front of over 20,000 fans at the home of his beloved Leeds United FC, Elland Road.

Frampton also experienced his own stadium fight when the Belfast hero had 25,000 of his fans sell out Northern Ireland’s national stadium, Windsor Park in August as they witnessed ‘The Jackal’ dismantle tough Aussie-fighter Luke Jackson in 9 rounds.

“You look at the best ticket-selling fighters in this country and the top four are [Anthony] Joshua, Carl and Josh, then Tyson Fury. They are the biggest ticket sellers and these two guys have the most vociferous and most passionate supporters.” said hall of fame boxing promoter Frank Warren.

He continued: “The atmosphere in the venue is going to be unbelievable and we have all the ingredients to make it a cauldron and a great, great event. This to me is what I am in the game for, to put on events like this.”

In a message posted on social media, outside Elland Road where he won the World Title, champion Warrington with his belt on his shoulder stated: “I’ve worked too hard to let this go. Come along and watch me retain my title. AND STILL.”

Frampton also posted a message across his social media channels this morning: “Come and watch me win my fourth World Title all just before Christmas!”.

Tickets are priced at £50 Upper Tier, £80 Tier, £100 Tier, £150 Tier, £200 Floor/Tier, £300 Floor, £400 Floor, £600 Inner Ring VIP Hospitality and are available.

Tickets available via Eventim and Ticketmaster .