Better than Selby – Team Warrington predicting improved performance versus Frampton
‘Real deal’ Josh Warrington gave just a glimpse of what he is capable of when winning the world title and will show his best against ‘credible’ opponent Carl Frampton warns his coach.
The Leeds man’s IBF super featherweight world title win over Lee Selby in May was termed a career best performance both inside and outside the Warrington camp.
The 28-year-old defied the odds to dethrone a champion with five successful defences under his belt in front of a packed Elland Road following.
Yet the champion, who defends against Belfast’s Frampton on December 22nd in Manchester, wasn’t at his greatest on the greatest night of his career claims Nick Manners who helps Warrington’s chainsmoking dad, Sean O’Hagan, train the fan favourite.Â
“What you saw against Selby is just a piece of what Josh Warrington is capable of,” promised Manners, a former pro who once faced Joe Calzaghe.
“Given the opportunities what we are getting now, I think you’re gonna start seeing the best of ‘The Leeds Warrior’. Josh Warrington is the real deal. He has so many attributes to him.”
“I’m not saying he is a 10 out of 10 fighter. I would put him at 7.5 or 8 out of 10, but that is enough to beat a lot of 10 out of 10 fighters who may not apply themselves as diligently as he does.”
“He wants to learn, he wants to improve, he’s not scared to take a challenge. This is a real live challenge.
“There are not many people who would want to fight Carl Frampton in their first defence, but we’re in it and here,” he continued before bigging up the Belfast man.
“At the end of the day, Carl Frampton still has plenty left in the tank. He is a credible opponent for anybody. We’ve got to this level and we’re staying at this level.”
The improvements have been steady over the Leeds man’s career and seemed to crescendo with the world title win – which coincided with another major life milestone.
Manners believes the biggest jump in performance levels came when Warrington became a father.
“People say they say there’s a difference in fighters when they become world champions, but to tell you the truth I noticed the difference when Josh became a father before the Selby fight.
“That meant more to him than being a world champion. Being a Father with a world title in the offing that gave him serious drive before Selby. I saw something in Josh’s resolve in the weeks leading up to the Selby fight that really impressed me,” revealed the coach.