Josh Warrington (left) faces Dennis Ceylan this weekend
Josh Warrington (left) faces Dennis Ceylan this weekend

Josh Warrington targets British showdown with Carl Frampton at Elland Road


Josh Warrington has set his sights on a showdown with stablemate Carl Frampton at Elland Road next summer.

Frampton - who recently signed for promoter Frank Warren after splitting with Barry McGuigan - will be at ringside in Leeds on Saturday night as a pundit to watch home favourite Warrington take on Denmark's Dennis Ceylan in a final eliminator for the IBF world featherweight title, currently held by Welshman Lee Selby.

Warrington is Sky Bet's 1/8 favourite to beat Ceylan who is 5/1, with the draw 25/1.

While the unbeaten Warington is obviously keen to press to his world-title claims, he also knows how big a potential fight with former two-weight world champion Frampton (23-1, 14KOs) would be at the home of his beloved Leeds United.

"Me and Carl would be a stadium fight," said 26-year-old Warrington (25-0, 5KOs).

"We both have massive followings and could sell out Elland Road. There is a big Irish community in Leeds and plenty would travel from Ireland to support Carl.

"By next summer Leeds United will hopefully be back in the Premier League and that will help it become even bigger

"It would be an hell of an event and a cracking fight. It would be even more special if one of us had a world title."

If Warrington beats Ceylan this weekend, he will be guaranteed a crack at Selby so there are pleny of options for the Leeds Warrior.

"I have always rated Selby as a fighter. He is very good and it takes something to become a world champion," said Warrington.

"I have always given him credit where it’s due, but he is very disrespectful and there is hype around him.

"Some say he is a massive puncher, but that goes back to the fight with Stephen Smith. Since then he hasn’t had any big knockouts.

"He stopped Brunker with a body shot and Gradovich with a cut, but since then he hasn’t lived up to things being screamed about him.

"The way he has constantly labelled me 'easy work' is showing no respect - he made it personal. He, his manager and manager’s son put a lot on social media.

"That is why I want to fight him and we can sort it out.

"Hisashi Amagasa was six foot and I will never come up with anyone as gangly and unorthodox as him. He had arms like lampposts and I thought I was looking up at a skyscraper.

"I am just interested to see what happens with Selby when I become mandatory. There have been talks of him fighting Carl (Frampton) and Leo Santa Cruz, so what Selby is actually going to do, I just don’t know."

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