Josh Warrington expects tough test from Patrick Hyland
Monday 18 July 2016 18:00, UK
Josh Warrington insists Patrick Hyland has his full attention as he prepares to defend his WBC international featherweight title in Leeds on July 30, live on Sky Sports.
The 25-year-old Warrington (23-0), who is getting married in August, has been mentioned as a potential opponent for IBF world champion Lee Selby, but must first get past dangerous Irishman Hyland.
Hyland (31-2) enters the bout having challenged for the WBC world title against the talented Gary Russell Jr in March and Warrington knows he has to be at his best to win.
"There's a lot at risk against Patrick but that's how it should be," said Warrington. "I've seen how he fights and I know I'm not going to have to go looking for him.
"He comes to fight and has a dig on him, you need that bit of fear factor to go into fights and that's what I have got - it should be a great fight for the fans on top of a brilliant card. The fans are going to be here from 5pm until the last bell and they're in for a treat.
"Patrick has been on my radar for a while, a good year or so, he's a very good fighter and as tough as they come, he's got a good KO ratio and I am in for another hard night.
"I didn't expect to be getting such a hard fight with the wedding coming up, I thought it might have been a bit of a tick over in the States or Germany, but all of a sudden there's guys that want to fight and Eddie wanted to come back to Leeds with me headlining so we've got another tough fight in front of us with Patrick.
"I'm not looking at any other fight than a World title fight if I come through against Patrick. Whether it's Selby or any of the other World champions, it doesn't matter. I'm ready now and I really want a World title fight next.
"That's why my full attention is on Patrick. I know that this is a really tough fight against a guy that has operated at a higher level than I have, so I need to prove that I'm ready for the biggest fights out there."
Warrington's clash with Hyland is part of a huge night of action in Leeds as Luke Campbell MBE faces his toughest test in the paid ranks to date in the shape of former world champion Argenis Mendez.
Huddersfield man Tyrone Nurse defends his British super lightweight title in an all-Yorkshire affair with Hull's Tommy Coyle while bitter heavyweight rivals Dillian Whyte and Dave Allen meet for the vacant WBC international title.
Also on the card, Barnsley's Josh Wale gets a shot at the Commonwealth super-bantamweight title against Birmingham's unbeaten starlet Gamal Yafai and classy Belfast man Ryan Burnett defends his WBC international bantamweight title.
