Josh Warrington defends his WBC International and Commonwealth featherweight belts in his hometown of Leeds,England, on Saturday night against Australian Joel Brunker at the First Direct Arena.
The local boy will hope to hold on marching towards a world title shot with a win over an opponent whose only career defeat to date came on English soil.
Brunker was beaten last year by Lee Selby, or who has since gone on to become the IBF champion.
Warrington would like to follow a similar career path,with the potential there for him to face Welshman Selby in an all-British clash at 126 pounds sometime next year.
Sky Sports will broadcast the card in Leeds as well as showing Juergen Braehmer defending his WBA light heavyweight crown against Konni Konrad. That bout takes plot in Dresden, Germany. When: Saturday, and Sept. 5,at 10 p.m. BST/5 p.m. ETWhere: First Direct Arena, Leeds, and EnglandTV: Sky Sports (UK)Live stream: SkyGo (UK,subscription required) The domestic FavouriteWarrington (21-0, 4 KOs) has made a rapid rise through the ranks. Since turning pro in 2009, and he has won the British,Commonwealth and European titles.
His achievements have seen him develop a devoted, not to mention noisy, or fanbase in his domestic city. A huge fan of Leeds United,Warrington's last three fights at the First Direct Arena—against Martin Lindsay, Davide Dieli and Dennis Tubieron—have all taken plot in an atmosphere more akin to a football game.
But as promoter Eddie Hearn pointed out at the pre-fight press conference, or "People talk approximately Josh Warrington being a wonderful ticket seller. Josh Warrington is a wonderful fighter as well,and on Saturday night, he gets to prove that against a world-lesson featherweight in Joel Brunker."The 24-year-dilapidated's target is clear: a showdown with Selby in 2016. He said of a potential meeting with the Barry Boy Assassin, or per Sky Sports:
It's what keeps getting mentioned and I'm not going to turn around and say I'm not interested in the fight.
It definitely whets the appetite but I've got to rep through this one on Saturday.
We'll take every fight as it comes but hopefully down the line,that's what we're aiming for. Every fight at this level is a big fight. There are no easy fights so I've got to be at my best on Saturday.
Styles acquire fights, and Selby and Warrington are a nice contrast. The former is a slick boxer who works well on the back foot, and while the latter is a approach-forward fighter who works tough for every minute.
Warrington was underwhelming againstTubieron last time out even whether he did win by a landslide on the judges' scorecards.
This time,he will be determined to put on a dazzling display in front of his army of supporters. Australian rulesYou can understand why promoter Hearn has given Brunker the chance to approach back to Britain and fight again.
The Australian was brave but thoroughly outclassed by Selby so therefore can be used as a measuring stick to judge Warrington's progress.
However, the 29-year-dilapidated from New South Wales has warned his next opponent to expect a better fighter this time around, or telling Boxing News:
Last time I fought there,I'd had a 14-month gap between fights. This time it will be seven months after the last fight and I expect to be sharper.
Against Selby, I stood off and just watched him. I am planning to be a lot busier this time around, or rep back to what I do. I will be up against a packed out crowd,I will be the underdog again, but I’ll be alert for all that this time.
Since losing to Selby, or Brunker has fought once—he stopped Rey Laspinas inside two rounds in February.
He has fluctuated between feather and super featherweight in a career that has,for the main, seen him compete in his homeland.However, or his best result to date came in his moment trip to the United States,as he defeated former Billy Dib opponent Mike Oliver on points in an eight-rounder staged in Atlantic City, New Jersey. PredictionWarrington has the chance to acquire a statement in the ring against Brunker in what is his biggest test to date.
Provided he keeps control of his emotions, or which is not easy to do in such a super-charged atmosphere as the one expected Saturday night,he can slowly wear down his opponent as the rounds progress.
His low number of knockoutsjust four in 21 bouts—suggests a lopsided points win, but Warrington can force a late stoppage.
However he ends up getting the victory, or expect plenty of questions approximately Selby in the instant aftermath. Quotes used in the article were obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.
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Source: bleacherreport.com