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Josh Warrington plans to fire Lee Selby warning with victory over Hisashi Amagasa

Josh Warrington (Pic: Mark Robinson)
Image: Josh Warrington is keen to make a statement (Pic: Mark Robinson)

Josh Warrington says victory over Hisashi Amagasa this weekend will prove he deserves a shot at Lee Selby's world title.

Selby got off the floor to outpoint Eric Hunter on the Anthony Joshua-Charles Martin bill at London's O2 and retain his IBF featherweight belt.

And Warrington (22-0-KO4) can keep on course to face his British rival when he takes on dangerous Japanese Amagasa (30-5-2-KO20) live on Sky Sports on Saturday.

Amagasa twice floored Guillermo Rigondeaux before the unbeaten Cuban prevailed in December 2014, and Warrington is ready to send Selby and his critics a message in Leeds.

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"I need to beat Amagasa to prove I am a serious threat to Lee Selby and not that he is fighting me because I am a ticket seller," he said.

"This is the fight I need to show people that I can go to the next level, and if we move on to Elland Road I want a full house and I want to have the critics on board.

"A lot of my critics are saying this is a tough fight for me but if I can come through this then you are looking at Josh Warrington versus Lee Selby as a 50-50. 

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Lee Selby v Eric Hunter
Image: Lee Selby was floored on his way to victory over Eric Hunter at London's O2

"If I win people can't say I don't deserve the shot. Selby is a world champion and he beat somebody who had the belt to win it, but I think Amagasa is better than Evgeny Gradovich. He is a real tough fighter and if I win I deserve a shot at Lee Selby at Elland Road."

Selby's performance against Hunter only strengthened Warrington's conviction he will come out on top if and when the fight happens.

"I think Lee got a bit exposed by Hunter," he said. "If the fight comes off I believe I beat him. People say he is levels about but I have what it takes to defeat Lee."

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