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Groom-to-be Warrington: I wasn’t expecting as hard a fight as Pajo

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Josh Warrington admits that he has it all to lose at the end of the month against Patrick Hyland.

Warrington takes on the Dubliner in front of his rabid home fans at the First Direct Arena on July 30th knowing he is in a risky fight.

There is a consensus that the hugely popular Yorkshire man is on course for a World title fight with IBF featherweight champ Lee Selby.

Indeed many thought that such a fight would happen this Summer in front of a massive crowd at Elland Road only for Warrington to pour cold water on the idea, citing his impending marriage and his need for one hundred per-cent concentration for a World title bout.

Therefore this allows Jobstown’s Hyland [31(15)-2(1)] to step into the breach to provide Warrington with one final acid test before his World title tilt.

Indeed the quality of his Irish opponent came as something of a shock to Warringotn [23(4)-0] who admitted to Sky Sports that “I didn’t expect to be getting such a hard fight with the wedding coming up.”

“I thought it might have been a bit of a tick over in the States or Germany, but all of a sudden there’s guys that want to fight and Eddie wanted to come back to Leeds with me headlining so we’ve got another tough fight in front of us with Patrick.”

The Leeds Warrior acknowledges the challenge posed by the recent World title challenger and notes that “there’s a lot at risk against Patrick but that’s how it should be.”

“He comes to fight and has a dig on him, you need that bit of fear factor to go into fights and that’s what I have got.”

“We could have taken an easier step with someone else but, we’re in again with someone real high level.”

The former European, British, and Commonwealth champion has done his homework on The Punisher and explained that “Patrick has been on my radar for a while, a good year or so, he’s a very good fighter and as tough as they come, he’s got a good KO ratio and I am in for another hard night.

“I’ve seen how he fights and I know I’m not going to have to go looking for him.”

However, the 25 year old sees Hyland as a stepping stone to bigger things and revealed that “I’m not looking at any other fight than a World title fight if I come through against Patrick.”

“Whether it’s Selby or any of the other World champions, it doesn’t matter.”

“I’m ready now and I really want a World title fight next.”

“That’s why my full attention is on Patrick.”

“I know that this is a really tough fight against a guy that has operated at a higher level than I have, so I need to prove that I’m ready for the biggest fights out there.”

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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