Warrington sees weaknesses in Valdez

JOSH WARRINGTON is dreaming of hitting the boxing jackpot in Las Vegas so his friends can have a week of partying.

The Leeds hero defends his IBF World Featherweight title against Belfast’s Carl Frampton (26-1) at Manchester Arena on December 22.

Promoter Frank Warren is lining up a unification fight next year against WBO champion Oscar Valdez for the winner.

If Warrington wins his first defence next month he wants it to take place in America. Warrington (27-0) is a huge ticket seller and would take thousands of fans if he boxed in the world’s boxing capital.

He said: “I would like to go to the United States – that gets me excited!

“It is for all my fans. After I beat Lee Selby, they were all asking me; ‘When is Las Vegas happening?’ They want an away day and an excuse to take a holiday..

“My boxing bucket list is unifying the division and to box there like a lot of the great fighters have.

“When I went to watch Carl fight Leo Santa Cruz in their Las Vegas rematch I made it my intention then that I wanted to fight there.”

Valdez says he wants the Warrington/Frampton winner and his promoter Bob Arum has discussed the clash with Warren, who promotes both boxers.

Warrington, 27, added: “Valdez is very exciting, a helluva talent, likes a scrap, known how to get guys out when they’re hurt but at the same time I have seen weaknesses.

“He gets caught pretty clean and sometimes uses his chin as his defence. He has beaten good names though and I wouldn’t take any credit away from him.

“Right now all I’m thinking of is Carl, and I’m sure he is thinking of me more than Valdez or any boxer.”

Warrington is still young enough to take his time in cleaning up the Featherweight division, but is in a rush to secure his legacy.

“When there is a chance to fight another champion you are going to grab that opportunity with both hands,” he explained.

“I am reaching my peak years. I’m fresh, I’m hungry, I’m determined. When you have momentum and confidence in yourself go for the big ones.

“Some fighters look at it like they have a chance to pad out their record and get some paydays under their belt.

“It is a short career and I don’t want to be boxing forever. If I can get the big fights one after the other I will take them.

“In my mid-career I was headlining Leeds Arena and I wasn’t fighting big names, but I was building myself up.

“Now it is the time to get big fights and all I want to do is be involved in them.”

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office. JJ Metcalf will defend his WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams in support of the main event, while Mark Heffron will challenge for the British middleweight title.

Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan (9-0) also features on the bill along with world flyweight title challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender Steven Ward (9-0).

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 Manchester-Arena.com