Josh Warrington Wants Gary Russell Jr Next
On October 12, IBF world featherweight champion Josh “The Leeds Warrior” Warrington (29-0, 6 KO’s) will face the challenge of Sofiane “Baby Face” Takoucht (35-3-1, 13 KO’s) in Leeds, England. The headlining bout will be aired live on ESPN+. While it’s often a dangerous thing to do, if successful, Warrington already has an eye on his next opponent.
If everything was up to him, once getting past Takoucht, Warrington would like to lock horns with WBC world featherweight champion “Mr.” Gary Russell Jr (30-1, 18 KO’s). Russell recently had his name plastered in boxing headlines for his heavy-handed call out of Leo Santa “El Terremoto” Cruz (36-1-1, 19 KO’s). Despite, the strong call out, it does not appear that Cruz wants any smoke with Russell Jr. This does not seem to be the case with Warrington.
Let them tell it, both Warrington and Russell are itching to get in the ring with another champion. So, if successful, the Leeds Warrior has every intention on penning a bout with Mr. Russell. Like he did with Cruz, Gary Russell made a firm and clear invitation to battle Warrington. Unlike Santa Cruz however, the IBF featherweight champion appears eager to accept Russell’s challenge.
“Just his challenge, just because of his challenge and the two other champion have gone up. Reall,y truthfully I wanted Santa Cruz because […] I’ve said this many times, [Cruz was] ranked #1 by the Ring magazine rankings. Had me at #2, I beat him and I’m the fucking #1, the numero uno ranked by Ring magazine and I got another shiny belt as well. Obviously he’s vacated and moved up, Santa Cruz has moved up, I can’t fight for those belts now… he’s [Gary Russell Jr.] the only one with the belt at this moment at time. He’s looking for fights, I’m looking for fights. It makes sense. ~Josh Warrington, IBF world
3kingsboxing will stay on top of this exciting potential prizefight.
By: Bakari Simpson
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