Josh Warrington: People will take note afer I beat Frampton

Josh Warrington is set to defend the IBF featherweight title against former two-division titleholder Carl Frampton on Saturday in Manchester, streaming live on ESPN+ in the United States, and he understands that this is truly the fight that can make people see him as a world class fighter.

From ESPN:

“When I win this fight it will put me up with the best in the division. ... I think many, many people underestimate me, and I don’t take it personally. People have their opinions but I think if the Lee Selby fight didn’t make people sit up and take notice, after I’m finished with Carl on December 22, they will definitely take note.”

Warrington (27-0, 6 KO) lifted the IBF strap from Lee Selby on May 19 in Leeds, but there was, understandably, some question of whether or not Selby himself was truly world class, or just a guy with a world title.

Frampton (26-1, 15 KO), on the other hand, has been through the fires and the big fights, and has won three straight after losing the second of two bouts with Leo Santa Cruz in Jan. 2017. He’s the favorite here — not an overwhelming favorite, because Warrington is an undefeated fighter with a world title, but the favorite. Warrington seems to be accepting of that, knowing that this can be the fight that puts him over the top if he pulls the mild upset.