Josh Warrington avoiding the fame bug: ‘I’ll think I’m a big shot when I retire’

Josh Warrington wasn’t even considered that serious a featherweight contender 13 months ago when he stepped into the ring against IBF titleholder Lee Selby. 12 rounds later, he was the new champ.

In December, Warrington was considered the underdog against challenger Carl Frampton. Another 12 rounds later, Warrington had won clearly and firmly established himself as a top fighter at 126 pounds.

This coming Saturday, he returns to Leeds to defend his title against Kid Galahad (26-0, 15 KO), a solid contender, and this time, Warrington is seen as the favorite. Not by miles or anything — this isn’t GGG-Rolls — but the favorite.

Warrington (28-0, 6 KO), though, says he’s not going to let any success or fame go to his head — at least not while he’s still fighting.

“I think for the last four or five years I’ve been noticed in the local supermarket or just walking up and down in the city of Leeds,” he said. “It is when you go into other cities and start getting noticed and people come over to you and say the fight with Frampton or Selby was one of the best they’ve seen. That means a lot because there are many genuine boxing fans out there who see your fights and when they say they are some of the best, it does take you back a little bit.”

Warrington, 28, admits he’s made at least one upgrade, but life otherwise stays the same.

“I don’t get worked up about the fame game. I’ve got a cleaner now at home! I still pick up the dog poo though so nothing has changed there and I still have to go for a pint of milk if we run out,” he said. “That is my life, I keep a small circle around me, keeping focused and keeping grounded.

“I’ll think I’m a big shot when I retire. I’ll start telling folk, ‘I used to be world champion back in the day.’”

Bad Left Hook will have live coverage of Warrington vs Galahad on Saturday, June 15, starting at 3 pm ET on ESPN+