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Lee Selby Plans To Retain Against Josh Warrington Then Challenge Carl Frampton

Written by Patrik Kuitunen on 24th January 2018.

Yesterday Frank Warren announced that contracts have been signed and Lee Selby versus Josh Warrington is finalised for May 19th.

The bad blood between the mandatory challenger and the IBF World featherweight champion is real and the two have been going at it verbally for months now. Defending champion Selby is eager to find out what Warrington is really made of.

“Let’s see what Josh is made of,” stated Selby.

“He’s done everything that has been asked of him so far. He’s picked up my vacated titles and beat a lot of my past opponents. To his credit, he’s earned his position as my mandatory challenger and deserves his shot.

“If Josh comes steaming out like he has done in the past that will just play into my hands as I’ll pick him off like I have done with numerous past opponents. If he opts to box on the back foot I definitely can’t see him outboxing me. In fact, there’s no way I can see him beating me,” said Selby according to a press release.

Selby’s plan is to retain his title against Warrington and then challenge Carl Frampton.

“The plan is to beat Warrington and then go over to Belfast and beat Frampton too. If I beat Frampton then the world is my oyster. This is a huge year for me and by the end of it I’ll prove to everyone that I’m the number one featherweight in the UK,” revealed Selby.

Warrington stated that he is well aware of Selby’s weaknesses and has serious intentions to dethrone the IBF champion.

“By winning this fight, not only do I get my hands on a World Title, but it’s a chance to show everyone that I’m the best featherweight in the UK and propel myself onto the World level,” insisted the 27-year-old.

“For the past three or four years our names have always been mentioned together. He’s always been that one step ahead of me and everyone has always looked at him as the number one Featherweight in the UK, but that will change on May 19.

“It’s going to be an entertaining fight for the fans but there’s only going to be one winner and that’s me. He’s not a perfect fighter or a polished fighter, he’s got a lot of weak points and I’m going to exploit them,” told Warrington.

Promoter Frank Warren promises that Selby-Warrington will be an exciting fan friendly bout, especially due to the mandatory challenger’s style.

“This is a fan friendly fight and guaranteed to entertain those in attendance and watching at home. Whether the relentless volume punching of Josh can unhinge the stylish probing of Lee, we’ll have to wait and see. Josh has been working towards this fight his whole life and has the chance to achieve his boyhood dream in his home city.

“Josh forced the issue by becoming Lee’s mandatory challenger and this is the shot he has been waiting for. It is a fight and an event that I’m really excited about, the atmosphere on the night will be worth the admission money alone!”

Warren also recently announced WBO World middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders’ next defense against challenger Martin Murray.

“This announcement comes hot on the heels of news of the all-British WBO Middleweight World Title fight between Billy Joe Saunders and Martin Murray in April.

Ourselves and BT Sport are committed to staging and televising the very best domestic fights, and in Selby vs. Warrington and Saunders vs. Murray we are doing so,” summarised Warren.

READ MORE:

Frank Warren announces Billy Joe Saunders versus Martin Murray

Press reacts to Billy Joe’s dominating performance over David Lemieux

Warrington: Cut out the trash talk Selby!