Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

Josh Warrington backs out of Lee Selby fight

World featherweight champion Lee Selby has accused his British rival Josh Warrington of “running scared” after the Leeds fighter pulled out of talks for a huge domestic showdown this summer.

IBF champion Selby was eagerly looking forward to a clash with unbeaten Warrington in either July or August, but negotiations have been halted as the Leeds boxer says he wishes to concentrate on his forthcoming wedding this summer.

Warrington has repeatedly claimed he is determined to face Selby in the ring, preferably in front of his home crowd at Leeds United’s Elland Road – and Selby was happy to make the fight happen even on ‘away’ soil.

As IBF champion Selby was also prepared to take less than a 75 percent cut of the purse, so determined was the Welshman to make the fight happen, but negotiations have now ended.

“This is a plain and simple case of one fighter, Josh Warrington, losing his bottle at the thought of facing me,” said Selby, who made a second successful defence of his crown last month with a unanimous points win over American Eric Hunter in London.

“There is surely nothing worse than a boxer talking the talk, telling all his fans this is what he wants to happen, then pulling out. It has happened many times before in boxing and unfortunately it has happened again as Josh Warrington is running scared.

Read more: Josh Warrington backs out of Lee Selby fight - - Boxing News - Ring News24

The reply from Team Warrington

Team Warrington label Lee Selby and his team “desperate”

Steve Wood, head of VIP Promotions and manager of WBC International featherweight champion Josh Warrington, has responded to recent claims made by boxer Lee Selby.

Selby, the IBF World featherweight champion, and his team issued a press release this week claiming Warrington was ‘running scared’ and had pulled out of a scheduled summer showdown. Wood, however, has refuted those accusations and insists the Welsh fighter has resorted to desperate measures to try to land himself a payday.

“To be honest, we’re all a bit embarrassed by the actions of Lee and his team in putting out that press release. On the contrary, Josh Warrington would like to assure Lee that he isn’t unwanted; as it appears he is by the American promoter [Al Haymon] he ran to after leaving Matchroom.

“Lee’s statement saying Josh is not interested and ‘running scared’ is just ludicrous. The simple truth is that August 6th is not the right time as Josh is getting married on August 20th. Josh actually wanted to take the fight but his team – father and trainer Sean O’Hagan and myself – advised it wouldn’t be professional to prepare for a world title fight with his wedding imminent.

Read more: Team Warrington label Lee Selby and his team "desperate" - - Boxing News - Ring News24

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My personal take is that Warrington has been building for this fight a long-time. He should take it now that it's on the table.

What are your thoughts?

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

He should take the shot. Warrington has been mouthing off for a long time then says "Sorry I'm busy". Maybe he doesn't realise that other people can make wedding plans and do their job at the same time.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

Josh Warrington hits back at Lee Selby over aborted negotiations

When asked for his response to Selby's statement, Warrington told Sky Sports: "Stop being a cry baby, Selby.

"At first, I let it get under my skin a bit and was disappointed he'd reverted to that but then I had a cup of tea, cut the grass, calmed down and started to see the funny side.

"It's embarrassing for him, really. He's a world champion and he's stuck in a bit of a position. My wedding has been on the cards for the last few years and we booked it then. It was a gamble but we thought we'd have boxed for the world title a bit sooner.

"We thought the Selby fight would happen this year but after talks between Matchroom and Leeds United revealed it couldn't happen this year, we thought it would happen next year. We want to make ourselves mandatory to fight for the IBF title now.

"This offer came about only last week and from our side it was left that this July seems a bit soon because I've got a lot of planning to do with the wedding and have other things going on besides boxing. Fighting for a world title is a massive occasion so I wanted to get the wedding out of the way and do it later in the year.

"The fight we want is Selby. All of the other champions - Gary Russell Jr and Vasyl Lomachenko - are elite. Those two are in the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Selby is not elite. He's world class and has a world title but he's not in the same league as them. That's why he has nowhere to go.

"It's a sticky situation for Selby. If he goes and fights Russell Jr or Lomachenko then there's a big chance that he'd lose his world title and I've heard from a few people that he struggles at the weight. He probably can't be a featherweight forever so he's probably looking for a pay day before he has to move up.

"I feel I'm 100 per cent in a better position than him. Don't get me wrong; world champions have people calling them out but nobody wants him. He went over to America but didn't show anything against Fernando Montiel.

"He's changed his mind about me - one minute I'm not in his league and why should he give me a shot and the next it's that I'm an easy pay day... He chops and changes his mind and now he's got nowhere to go.

"After yesterday we were prepared to postpone the wedding even though we've put a lot of money into it already, but he had a six or seven-month build-up before he boxed Evgeny Gradovich and now he's tried to spring it on us and say we had a month-and-a-half to prepare.

"Elland Road is still the one. When we found out it couldn't be there this year, the game plan became to make ourselves mandatory for the IBF. That's what we've got to do and if Selby is still champion at Christmas then we could both sign it off and have a five-month build-up for next May.

"Nobody is avoiding him and nobody is running scared. We want the fight and we don't have to wait until next year - we could still have it this year. It's us who generates the interest though, and we don't fancy fighting in a little shed in Wales though - we want to fight in arenas and stadiums."

Source: SkySports

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

He should take the shot. Warrington has been mouthing off for a long time then says "Sorry I'm busy". Maybe he doesn't realise that other people can make wedding plans and do their job at the same time.

Agree mate, I don't understand how Warrington has comeback and said Selby isn't elite compared to others and then won't take his shot. Elland Road busy during the summer - have they a lot planned during the non-football months?

I watched an interview with Eddie Hearn and the relationship with James DeGale got brought up - Hearn basically said he's not 100% committed to fighters who aren't properly in his stable. Fair comment to be honest. Lee Selby, like DeGale, has brought Haymon in.

At the end of the day, this is a fight that will bring a big payday, to both fighters, in a contest they believe they can win. Warrington's been shadowing/stalking Selby. The opportunity is here, so get your promoter to make it happen.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

Great information, Thanks for sharing.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

After watching his struggle with Martinez on Saturday night I now know why he turned down the Selby fight last year. Quite frankly he'd have been embarrassed.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

Didn't he leave Matchroom cause Eddie wouldn't put him forward to fight Selby?

Think Josh should have taken it as it's a win win for him, anyone bar the rabidest of his fans must know he goes in as massive underdog to Selby (especially after Martinez) so if he loses, it's no surprise, if he wins then he becomes a megastar (maybe).

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

After watching his struggle with Martinez on Saturday night I now know why he turned down the Selby fight last year. Quite frankly he'd have been embarrassed.

I don't think so. "Embarrassed", definitely not. He's got his handspeed and accuracy which would def make Lee work hard. I think Lee would win but no way would he embarrass Warrington.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

Think Eddie want him to face Selby. Josh didn't want it.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

I think he actually wanted the Selby fight but his team did not.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

I didn't like Warrington's performance against Martinez and Selby had some decent fights recently. Both aren't punchers, but I think Selby will outwork him.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

I think he actually wanted the Selby fight but his team did not.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

No, Warrington turned the fight down because it clashed with planning his wedding.

I was not aware of that. Eddie Hearn said his team did not want it prior to parting ways with Josh.

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

I'd really just like to see Selby get a decent opponent who'll test him and showcase his skills. Be nice for him to earn a few quid in the process. He's a GB World champ, and can't get worthwhile opponents. Quigg (M/R), Frampton (Cyc) and Warrington (B/N) all UK fighters and not World champs. I think Selby beats Warrington, gets beat by Frampton and Quigg's a 50/50. It seems that the other boxers are intent on either revenge rematches or weddings instead

Re: Warrington turns down Selby fight - War of Words

selby plays with warrington all day every day. complete mismatch between a world level operator against an at best basic european figher. warrington is better matched with bangers or warriors to be in entertaining fights for his leeds fans. if he boxed selby everyone would be bored as f and doze off.