Josh Warrington could see his dream of a Stateside world title fight become a reality.
The IBF featherweight king was last in action earlier this month when he outpointed Carl Frampton.
Leeds’ Warrington outworked and outboxed the former two-weight king, from Belfast, by margins of 116-113, 116-112 and 116-112 at Manchester Arena, exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office.
Afterwards, the attention was turned to unification showdowns.
Mexicans Leo Santa Cruz and Oscar Valdez, who hold the WBA Super and WBO titles respectively, and American Gary Russell Jr, who has the WBC crown, are next on the hitlist of the 28-year-old, who is managed by Steve Wood.
Rumours have surfaced that discussions had already been held between Frank Warren and Oscar Valdez’s promoter, Bob Arum, about the winner of the fight between Warrington and Frampton being next for the WBO king.
And the idea of a fight with ‘Leeds Warrior’ Warrington appeals to Valdez, according to his manager Frank Espinoza, and it could happen sooner rather than later.
Valdez, returning from a broken jaw suffered against Scott Quigg in March, will be back in action on February 2 at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, when he takes on Carmine Tommasone.
“We are very interested in that fight but we are focused on Carmine Tommasone right now,” said Espinoza recently. “Once we get through this fight then we can talk about Warrington.”
The fight against Tommasone will be Valdez’s first under the tutelage of Eddy Reynoso, the head trainer of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
“Oscar has been out of the ring 11 months so it would be nice for him to get some rounds in. This is only his first fight with Eddy so we will see some changes but not all at once. It will take a few fights.”
Article by: Elliot Foster