Josh Warrington willing to face Xu Can for WBA title behind closed doors

IBF featherweight champion Warrington keen to fight Xu Can as soon as possible despite ongoing pandemic setting

Josh Warrington (30-0 7KOS) is ready to fight as soon as possible against WBA 'regular' champion Xu Can (18-2 3KOS), irresepctive of fans being able to attend with the Leeds fighter just intent on returning to the ring and competing once again.

'The Leeds Warrior' last fought on October 12th defeating Sofiane Takoucht with an early stoppage, and he is now chasing another world title to add to his collection, with the fight on track to go ahead before the pandemic halting proceedings.

The 29-year-old has held the IBF featherweight title since 2018. At regional level, he held the British, Commonwealth, European and WBC International featherweight titles between 2013 and 2017, in addition to becoming the first boxing world champion from Leeds with victory against Lee Selby.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, Warrington said: 

“I understand that he [Xu] still wants to fight. We are getting to the stage now where we want to get that pen to paper, find a venue and get the logistics right,” said Warrington to the Yorkshire Post.I would have said a few months ago to wait for the fans to come back but now we are into August and in a few months it will be a year since I last boxed. You can’t really say that was much of a fight either. I had a full camp but it was only a round and a half in the ring; it is not the most that you want when you are trying to keep some momentum going.

There is always a risk if you push it back. I am at the stage now that if there is an opportunity there to have the fight and it means we need to go behind closed doors, or have a percentage of the crowd there, then I would be willing to do that.”

The unbeaten featherweight also expressed his confidence over his ability to return to top gear after an extended period from fighting, and believes ring rust will not play a factor in his next fight.

He said: “I am 30 fights deep now and I have had 14 or 15 12-round fights, so I don’t think a warm-up fight could prepare me for what I would be going into with Can Xu. Secondly, I am in a position where I don’t have the luxury to consider warm-up fights because I have got mandatory fights and they don’t want to be waiting around. I would be exempt with a unification fight but not a warm-up fight.

“Even when you are in the fight itself, you have to keep yourself focused and stick to the game-plan but when you are landing the shots and the crowd are cheering, there is the roar and the buzz. And then your opponent might come back with a little bit of success, if you are fighting at home there is a bit of silence.That energy from the crowd, that is why we do it. We compete to entertain. When the fans are screaming and shouting at ringside, it is a good buzz.”

Warrington also revealed his delight at being able to get back into the gym and train with his team and trainer Sean O'Hagan.

“You enjoy the banter and competition with the lads and everyone is pushing each other, it is nice to get all that back. You feel like you can push on a little bit more.

“I am hoping that by November or December I am back in the ring again and winning another couple of belts.”

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