Josh Warrington will finally get his shot at fighting for a world title.
Promoter Frank Warren announced on Twitter that Warrington will challenge for Lee Selby’s IBF featherweight world title. The fight will take place on May 19 at Elland Road, home of the football club Leeds United.
Warrington has a chance to become the first man from the city of Leeds, England to win a boxing world title. Warrington acknowledges that having the home field advantage will be extremely beneficial to him and hopes to give his hometown a world title.
“On May 19, I’ll achieve my dream of becoming a world champion at the home of my beloved Leeds United Football Club,” Warrington said. “The city of Leeds is craving a world champion and I’m going to give them what they want. With the support of an entire city behind me, I’m going to create history. I’m going to give absolutely everything to get my hands on that world title. I’m grabbing this opportunity with both hands!”
Selby will be making his sixth title defense, last defending his title on December 9 on the undercard of the James DeGale vs. Caleb Truax IBF super middleweight title fight. Selby, who has lost just once in his entire professional career, won the title in 2015 with a technical decision win over Evgeny Gradovich. Warrington, a former WBC International and European featherweight champion, is undefeated and is coming off a TKO win over Dennis Ceylan last October in Leeds.
The fight will be televised on BT Sport in the United Kingdom and no other fights regarding the undercard has been announced.
