Exclusive: Josh Warrington Eyes Iconic U.S. Fight to Reward Loyal Fans Before Retirement

Josh Warrington wants to reward his loyal fans by arranging a fight in the United States before he retires from the sport.

The two-time world featherweight champion, who returns to the ring later this month, has competed only once outside of the UK since turning professional over a decade-and-a-half ago. 

Boasting one of the largest and most loyal followings in the sport, Warrington’s victory over Edwin Tellez at Berlin’s Uber Arena remains the stuff of legends among his supporters more than four years on.

Now, as he approaches the end of what has been a stellar and storied career, the featherweight hopes to create more memories for those who continue to attend his bouts by arranging a date at one of boxing’s most iconic locations.

“For me, selfishly, I’d choose Madison Square Garden in New York because of all the history associated with there,” Warrington exclusively revealed to SportsBoom.com. 

“For the people who come to watch me, who have backed me all the way right from the beginning, I’d choose Las Vegas because I know they’d have one hell of a party over there."

“I’ve always made it clear that I’ve wanted to go over there and hopefully it’s something that can still happen."

“There have been people cheering me on right from the days when I was appearing in leisure centres and I want to give something back to them. I want to give them an experience they’ll be able to talk about for the rest of their lives because, in many cases, they’ve given up birthdays and weddings to be at my shows."

“It’s the least that I can do, to try and pay them back for that, so I’ll continue to try and push it.”

Now aged 34, Warrington was first crowned the IBF king after dethroning Lee Selby at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium in 2018. 

Later relinquishing his title to Mauricio Lara he duly reclaimed it in 2022 by defeating Kiko Martinez; again in front of his adoring hometown fans. Seven years earlier, he registered a technical knockout victory over Tellez on the undercard of Paul Smith’s unsuccessful attempt to wrestle the WBO super middleweight belt away from Arthur Abraham.

“That trip to Berlin spawned so many stories that people still talk about today,” Warrington continued. 

“I’ve had lads tell me that because Leeds were also playing that day, they had a few drinks watching the match and then, because I got the job done early, they all dashed back into Berlin to keep the party going. They make me wish I’d been there with them."

“When I first became world champion, I made it clear I wanted to get unification fights in the States and, even though we got really close at times, for one reason or another they never quite got over the line which was really frustrating."

“I was screaming and shouting for it but it never happened.”

DESPERATE TO WIN

Warrington hopes to end a run of three straight defeats, at least one of which came in controversial circumstances, when he meets India’s Asad Asif Khan at Sheffield’s Canon Medical Arena on April 19th. 

Despite appearing to retire following September’s points loss to Anthony Cacace - “I thought that was a close one” - he has chosen to carry on after also suffering set-backs against Luis Alberto Lopez and domestic rival Leigh Wood - “That one got stopped too early and I should have been allowed, in my opinion, to carry on.”

Returning to the theme of securing a Stateside assignment, Warrington, whose list of victims include Carl Frampton, Kid Galahad and Patrick Hyland, said: “I always remember going out to Vegas to watch Carl’s rematch against Leo Santo Cruz at the MGM Grand in Vegas and seeing all his fans walking down to strip chanting ‘We’re the Ulster boys.’ It was a real sight and I thought ‘My fans would love something like this. They’d be talking about it forever."

“I might not get as many going over now as there would have been a while back but they’d still travel in their numbers, that’s for sure, and they’d create such a special atmosphere."

“I’ve been so fortunate to fight at Elland Road, Headingley and at the First Direct in Leeds, where I’m so proud to be from. But it would be so memorable to get out there, to New York or Vegas, and give my fans something they’d remember forever.”