TWO years on from the greatest night of his career Josh Warrington is suffering a lockdown double hangover.
Not only is the IBF world featherweight champ losing prime months of his legacy to the coronavirus pandemic but he is too dedicated to join wife Natasha for ice-cold bottles of Corona.
Josh Warrington is staying off the Coronas until boxing is back on track
The Leeds warrior chased masterful Welshman Lee Selby around the 9st division until he could lure him to Elland Road on May 19, 2018, as a rank outsider fancied by most to flop.
But over 12 thrilling rounds, Selby was outmuscled and outboxed by the local lad who only gave up his day job for a run at the British title and just could not stop overachieving.
Exactly two years later, stuck at home and wondering if he will even get a chance to box in 2020, would be the ideal time to toast his triumphs.
Warrington, 29, told SunSport: “I am not a massive drinker but you definitely fancy it more when the weather is nice.
“Ironically we have loads of bottles of Corona left over from Christmas and the other day Tash put the kids to bed and opened a couple with a lovely slice of fresh lime.
“But, even without a fight on, I could not bring myself to have one. Until my next fight is finished, no matter how long it takes, I will not be able to touch one.
“So I just sat there watching her sip away, slathering like a dog and thinking that looks refreshing.”
Dogged is the perfect way to explain Warrington’s displays. Going into the Selby fight, just six of his 26 wins came inside the distance. Selby was having his sensational skills compared with Floyd Mayweather.
It’s been two years since Warrington defeated Lee SelbyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But Warrington added: “I was a feather-fisted ticket seller who only got a world title shot because I had a lot of fans.
“I was supposed to get outboxed and Selby himself said I would look like f****** Noddy because his jab would have my head rocking back-and-forth so much!
“Everything about the build-up and the fight came together at Elland Road, I felt my whole career was on the line.
“I don’t think I would have recovered from losing that, I don’t know if anyone would have given me a route back.
“Everyone always talked about how big Lee was so, when he got in the ring, I was prepared for a monster but I never saw it.
“As soon as we got in the ring and in the clinch I felt him out and honestly felt like I had harder spars in the camp.
“At the end of the first round I felt I had his measure. From then on it was mine to lose.”
Unlike Carl Frampton, who Warrington went on to defend his title against six months later in another barnstormer, Selby has refrained from giving Warrington much credit.
Warrington does not lose any sleep over it, in fact he and his pals used a rerun to keep them awake for another classic.
He said: “I was around a friend’s house for Tyson Fury’s win over Deontay Wilder in February.
“One of the boys had the bright idea of sticking the Selby fight on to wake us up a bit. It was 3.30 in the morning and we were all cheering.”
Josh Warrington shows off his strength as he power punches in boxing workout
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
