Featherweight

Josh Warrington defends his WBC International and Commonwealth featherweight belts in his hometown of Leeds, England, on Saturday night against Australian Joel Brunker at the First Direct Arena.

The local boy will hope to keep on marching towards a world title shot with a win over an opponent whose only career defeat to date came on English soil.

Brunker was beaten last year by Lee Selby, who has since gone on to become the IBF champion.

Warrington would like to follow a similar career path, with the potential there for him to face Welshman Selby in an all-British clash at 126 pounds sometime next year.

Sky Sports will broadcast the card in Leeds as well as showing Juergen Braehmer defending his WBA light heavyweight crown against Konni Konrad. That bout takes place in Dresden, Germany.

When: Saturday, Sept. 5, at 10 p.m. BST/5 p.m. ET

Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England

TV: Sky Sports (UK)

Live stream: SkyGo (UK, subscription required)

The Home Favourite

Warrington (21-0, 4 KOs) has made a rapid rise through the ranks. Since turning pro in 2009, he has won the British, Commonwealth and European titles.

His achievements have seen him develop a devoted, not to mention noisy, fanbase in his home city. 

A huge fan of Leeds United, Warrington's last three fights at the First Direct Arena—against Martin Lindsay, Davide Dieli and Dennis Tubieron—have all taken place in an atmosphere more akin to a football game.

But as promoter Eddie Hearn pointed out at the pre-fight press conference, "People talk about Josh Warrington being a wonderful ticket seller. Josh Warrington is a wonderful fighter as well, and on Saturday night, he gets to prove that against a world-class featherweight in Joel Brunker."

The 24-year-old's target is clear: a showdown with Selby in 2016. He said of a potential meeting with the Barry Boy Assassin, per Sky Sports:

It's what keeps getting mentioned and I'm not going to turn around and say I'm not interested in the fight.

It definitely whets the appetite but I've got to get through this one on Saturday.

We'll take every fight as it comes but hopefully down the line, that's what we're aiming for. Every fight at this level is a big fight. There are no easy fights so I've got to be at my best on Saturday.

Styles make fights, and Selby and Warrington are a nice contrast. The former is a slick boxer who works well on the back foot, while the latter is a come-forward fighter who works hard for every minute.

Warrington was underwhelming against Tubieron last time out even if he did win by a landslide on the judges' scorecards.

This time, he will be determined to put on a dazzling display in front of his army of supporters.

Australian rules

You can understand why promoter Hearn has given Brunker the chance to come back to Britain and fight again.

The Australian was brave but thoroughly outclassed by Selby so therefore can be used as a measuring stick to judge Warrington's progress.

However, the 29-year-old from New South Wales has warned his next opponent to expect a better fighter this time around, telling Boxing News:

Last time I fought there, I'd had a 14-month gap between fights. This time it will be seven months after the last fight and I expect to be sharper.

Against Selby, I stood off and just watched him. I am planning to be a lot busier this time around, get back to what I do. I will be up against a packed out crowd, I will be the underdog again, but I’ll be ready for all that this time.

Since losing to Selby, Brunker has fought once—he stopped Rey Laspinas inside two rounds in February.

He has fluctuated between feather and super featherweight in a career that has, for the main, seen him compete in his homeland.

However, his best result to date came in his second trip to the United States, as he defeated former Billy Dib opponent Mike Oliver on points in an eight-rounder staged in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 

Prediction

Warrington has the chance to make a statement in the ring against Brunker in what is his biggest test to date.

Provided he keeps control of his emotions, which is not easy to do in such a super-charged atmosphere as the one expected Saturday night, he can slowly wear down his opponent as the rounds progress.

His low number of knockouts—just four in 21 bouts—suggests a lopsided points win, but Warrington can force a late stoppage.

However he ends up getting the victory, expect plenty of questions about Selby in the immediate aftermath.

Quotes used in the article were obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.

One of the most anticipated featherweight showdowns will take place Saturday in Los Angeles. WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KO) is stepping up to featherweight to take on former three-division champion Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KO) in a battle of respected Mexican fighters.  

The WBC Diamond featherweight title is on the line—which is not a belt of note—but the winner of this bout will thrust himself to a new level of national prominence, as well as to a higher plain in the consciousness of Mexico’s spirited boxing community.

The undercard features a super bantamweight scrap for the WBC title. Knockout artist and former interim WBA champion Hugo Ruiz (35-2, 31 KO) will square off with the equally powerful Julio Ceja (29-1, 26 KO).

Both of these guys come to bang. While most don’t know them yet, there's a chance this matchup could have people talking just as much as the main event. The card is presented by Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN.

Here's how you can watch:

Mexican Warriors

This will be the second fight outside of Mexico for both Ceja and Ruiz. It'll be both fighters' first fight in the United States as well.

Despite their lack of notoriety with the American boxing public, Ruiz and Ceja speak the universal language of fight fans with their fists.

Ruiz's KO percentage is 84 percent and Ceja's is 87. If this fight goes the distance, it'll be a miracle.

Ruiz has faced the better competition in his career. At 28, and with 37 professional fights under his belt, he's the more experienced fighter. Ceja is just 22 years old, but he's compiled 30 pro fights after turning professional at the age of 16.

Ruiz has won four fights in a row since losing a split decision to former WBA bantamweight champion Koki Kameda in Japan in December 2012. It was his only chance to fight for a true world title to date. A win over Ceja would put him in position to fight for another title in the near future. Three of the wins in Ruiz's current streak have come by stoppage.

Ceja's only loss was a majority-decision defeat to WBA bantamweight champion and current regular WBA titleholder Jamie McDonnell in May 2013 in the United Kingdom.

Both Ruiz and Ceja have moved up in weight to put themselves in line to take control of the title that Santa Cruz seems destined to vacate. 

Because of the styles and hunger of both fighters, this bout is an even better bet for action than the main event.

Mexican Warriors II

On paper, it does not get much better than Santa Cruz vs. Mares. This is what big-time boxing is supposed to be: two respected, championship-level fighters meeting while both are in their physical prime.

It wouldn’t be compelling unless there was some level of uncertainty with regard to both fighters.

It’s easy to wonder whether Santa Cruz is truly an elite fighter or just a good one who has beaten up mediocre opposition. The level of his competition over his last three fights has left a lot to be desired. Manuel Roman, Jesus Ruiz, Jose Cayetano are not the type of fighters who will move the needle for fight fans.

Because of that rather weak resume, taking on a well-known opponent like Mares was a necessity for Santa Cruz. While his style is crowd pleasing, it seemed as if the boxing community was set to turn on him because of the Mickey Mouse matchmaking he's benefited from of late. 

If Santa Cruz can beat Mares, it'll restore some of the respect he might have lost over the last 18 months. If he loses, it'll validate the criticism. 

Mares needs this win to re-establish himself after losing by first-round KO to Jhonny Gonzalez in August 2013. He's won three fights in a row since the loss, but this is the first opportunity he's had against another major name since the crushing defeat.

The fight looks so close, it’s even difficult for experts to call. Showtime's Al Bernstein is not sure which way to lean:

Can Santa Cruz's straight-forward attack wear down Mares, or will the brawling, less orthodox style of the latter win out? Fans may have their rooting interest, but they can only hope this fight reaches its potential. 

If it does, PBC on ESPN might have itself an instant classic. 

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Defeats hurt in any sport, but especially in boxing. They can be painful, both physically and mentally. Yet a loss is not always a disaster, as Leigh Wood can testify.

The 26-year-old was making his way in the professional ranks after a successful amateur career, reeling off 11 straight wins, when he was suddenly offered the chance to fight for the British super bantamweight title.

Despite having never fought beyond six rounds before, and despite only ever facing one fighter with a winning record, the Englishman accepted the opportunity. 

For the first few rounds in his bout with Gavin McDonnell in Hull in February 2014, it looked like the calculated gamble was going to pay off.

Wood was knocked down in the opening round, even if it did appear to be a slip, but recovered quickly to seize control. The skills honed at the famous Ingle Gym in Sheffield were clear for all to see—the jab was working well, and he mixed up his attacks beautifully, working both the body and the head.

However, he now admits he “probably showed too much too early.” 

McDonnell gritted his teeth and toughed out the opening bombardment. As each round passed, he slowly became the more dominant fighter in what had now become an old-fashioned domestic scrap. 

His relentless work rate eventually wore down his opponent, and he forced a stoppage in the sixth. Wood’s perfect record was gone, as was his dream of becoming British champion.

However, the Nottingham boxer feels the defeat may ultimately end up being a blessing.

“I’d never boxed past four three-minute rounds before,” he said. "I’d never beaten anyone who was unbeaten, nor (fought) in an eliminator, so it was a big risk.

“But it was worth the opportunity. It didn’t pay off, but I gained a lot of experience from it—I learned a hell of a lot from that fight.

“A lot of fighters are worried about keeping their ‘0’ and don’t want to lose their undefeated records. However, I wouldn’t change what happened to me for anything. What I learned from that fight has really helped me improve. The things I needed to work on were really identified.

“I know now that it’s a totally different game—you can’t show all your cards at once; you’ve got to keep something in the bank.”

Eager to climb back on the horse after falling off, Wood returned to action just under three months later. He stopped Martin Mubiru in his home city to get back to winning ways.

However, his career was put on hold when he suffered a serious arm injury during a sparring session.

"I was sparring in Nottingham, and I just threw a body shot when I completely ruptured my bicep tendon. My bicep basically shot up my arm," he revealed.

“It was quite scary. I’d never had a major injury before, and then I was suddenly in a cast. Once the cast came off I couldn’t get my arm to fully straighten. It felt like there was a lot of tension on my tendon.

“I kept doing my own physio work, and it gradually got to the point where I could straighten it to about 95 percent. I was thinking in the back of my head, ‘Is this ever going to get straight? What if it doesn’t fully straighten?’

“At that time, I just started to think I could change my style and learn to box with one arm. I was just thinking I’d find a way to make it work.

“Luckily, though, I kept working on my rehab. One of the trainers would take photographs of my arm, and once I could see the development every two weeks I was able to pick myself up. I was able to feel happier.”

Thankfully, Wood—who is able to train full-time thanks to sponsorship—was able to make a full recovery.

He won twice in the month of March and, as he steps up his comeback, is scheduled to be in action again on July 25 in Derby, England.

His future now at featherweight, Wood is craving success: "I’ve always wanted to win a British title. But I’m 27 nearly; I’m not going to stick around if I have to bide my time for a shot at it. I haven’t got time to wait.

“Maybe the Commonwealth title will be the aim instead. I will hopefully box an eliminator for a title of some kind in either October or November.”

Wood's outlook is refreshing—the clash with McDonnell has taught him much about life in the paid ranks. He was willing to take that risk rather than continue to pad his record with comfortable victories against journeymen.

His desire hasn't been dampened by a first defeat, either. If anything, it’s made him even more determined.

Floyd Mayweather may be chasing perfection in his career, but he's an exception in the sport, not the rule. Wood should look no further than Johnny Nelson, a former Ingle pupil who lost his first three pro bouts but went on to become a world champion at cruiserweight.

A loss for a young, talented fighter doesn't mean it has to be the end of the road—just the chance to move in a different direction.

Rob Lancaster is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes used in the story were obtained firsthand, unless otherwise stated.

Nicholas "The Axe Man" Walters (25-0, 21 KO) will take his hacks at the undefeated Miguel "The Scorpion" Marriaga (20-0, 18 KO) on Saturday night from Madison Square Garden in New York. This will be Walters' first defense of his WBA featherweight championship and his first time fighting in one of the true meccas of the sports world.

Walters has the potential to become a major star in the featherweight division, but he must take down a tough Colombian who has yet to taste defeat to make the next step.

When: Saturday, June 13 at 10 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden in New York

TV: HBO

Live Stream: BoxNation (Region Restricted)

Last Time Out

Walters

Some in boxing's hard-core circles knew about Walters before he thrashed former pound-for-pound contender and five-division champion Nonito Donaire to win the WBA title in October 2014. Afterward, Walters' name gained even more notoriety.

We'd seen Donaire beaten before by Guillermo Rigondeaux but never beaten up. Walters stopped Donaire in the sixth round after dropping him in the third.

The Axe Man had officially announced his arrival to the mainstream, and he'd done it in most impressive fashion.

Marriaga

The 28-year-old hasn't faced many fighters most boxing fans will recognize in his career. In his last fight, he stopped Carlos Fernando Perez Martinez in the third round in December 2014.

Before that, Marriaga had his lone fight in the United States when he knocked out Christopher Martin in the sixth round at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The fight was broadcast on ESPN's Friday Night Fights, and it gave Marriaga the chance to gain the exposure he needed to land this bout with Walters.

Even with that stateside experience, it's safe to say fighting in MSG could be overwhelming for the Arjona native. He'll need to rise to the occasion to remain competitive with a hungry and dangerous champion.

What's at Stake

Walters

Should he beat Marriaga, a huge unification bout with WBO champion Vasyl Lomachenko is on the table for Walters next. It seems he and his promoter Bob Arum are eager to make the fight.

Per Keith Idec of Boxing Scene, a profane and accurate Bob Arum said: “That’s the fight I want to make. No f---ng around – go right into that fight. People would love that fight. That would be a great f---ing fight.”

Walters added: “It’s a big fight. The world wants to see that fight. Like I say, Uncle Bob is the man who makes the fights. I’m the guy who fights the fights. You talk to Top Rank, HBO and if they can make the fight, I’ll fight the fight.”

Per Nat Gottlieb of HBO.com, here's what HBO analyst Max Kellerman said about the potential of Walters' and Lomachenko's presence in the featherweight division: "If not for [Vasyl] Lomachenko's presence at 126, he [Walters] would be viewed as a potentially dominant champion."

Stylistically, it could be an epic bout: Lomachenko's speed and technical savvy against Walters' heart, relentlessness and power. However, if Walters can't beat Marriaga, the bout won't happen—at least not anytime soon.

Marriaga

A future as a legitimate contender or champion is on the line for Marriaga. Walters and Top Rank deserve credit for putting the champion in the ring with someone who at least has an undefeated record, skills and decent experience.

Marriaga is still young enough to make a name for himself, and he's flashed enough potential and power to prevent this defense from being a one-sided showcase that fans see coming a mile away.

If Marriaga wants more American appearances and fights against well-known opponents, he has to show well on Saturday night. Even if he doesn't pull off the improbable win, he needs to be competitive and show heart.

Who Wins

Walters' power shots get a lot of attention, but his jab is an underrated weapon. He has long arms for a featherweight with his 73" reach, and that will be a major factor for him against the rugged and game Marriaga.

The Colombian fighter has some throwback characteristics to his game. He comes forward constantly while winging hard shots to the body and head. He paws a jab, but it is just used to help him close the distance to get into range for power shots.

The pressure may take some getting used to for Walters, but ultimately he'll find the jab to be the space-maker he needs to open up his power game.

This will not be an easy fight for Walters, but ultimately he'll win because of his power and reach. With the jab leading the way, Walters will score an eighth-round TKO to set up the meeting with Lomachenko.

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There is a new IBF world featherweight champion in boxing, as an excellent tactical display and a nasty cut from an accidental head-butt paved the way for Lee Selby (21-1-0, 8 KOs) to snatch the title from Evgeny Gradovich (19-1-1, 9 KOs) via technical decision Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London.

Selby had outclassed Gradovich for much of the bout before an accidental clash of heads opened up a major cut on Gradovich's head in the seventh round.

The officials called the bout in the eighth, but by rule, the match had to go to the cards. BBC.com had the scores at 79-73, 80-72 and 79-73.

Sky Sports Boxing also showed some of the damage done:

Selby was confident coming into the match, telling Sky Sports, "When I become champion, I can really appreciate it because I've done it the hard way."

Gradovich was the aggressor early on in the fight, coming forward and forcing the action, only to be rebuffed by a confident Selby.

The Welsh boxer did well to get his defensive jab and counterpunches off early, preventing Gradovich from getting too close and turning things into a brawl.

A strong left hook from Selby staggered Gradovich toward the end of the second; it was easily the best shot of the early goings. Boxing News noted he wasn't perfect, however:

Gradovich's punches came in bunches, but Selby did well to dodge the majority of his biggest swings.

Still, the titleholder closed the gap in the middle rounds through sheer volume and aggression, even if Selby made him look foolish at times, per Sky Sports Boxing:

A nasty cut on the bridge of Gradovich's nose was evidence that he was clearly the worse for wear in this fight. His power punches were wild at times and allowed Selby to sneak in his own power shots and score points.

Selby was pure class in the sixth round, deftly evading a frustrated Gradovich and tagging him with a mixture of right crosses and left hooks.

For the first time in the bout, he put Gradovich on the back foot, a troubling development for the latter's preferred style of boxing. Even so, Bad Left Hook felt the Welshman was getting undue praise from the ringside commentators:

The clash of heads in the seventh opened up a large cut on the right side of Gradovich's head. Selby immediately targeted the open wound, and a hard left soon after the next round's opening bell led the official to call time. The doctor took a look, and the decision was made to wave off the match on the spot.

Considering this is just the first loss of Gradovich's career and he had successfully defended the IBF belt multiple times before Saturday night, it would be shocking if he didn't work his way back into a title fight in due time.

Selby was the better boxer on the night and exposed some of Gradovich's defensive weaknesses, but both fighters are poised to be forces in the featherweight division for many bouts to come.  

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao finally settled things for good. 

It was the great superfight of their time, but it only made amends for what was supposed to happen a half-decade ago. Mayweather turned back his greatest adversary to prove himself better, not just now, but all along.

It was the past revisited.

It was the undercard where fans caught a glimpse of the future.

Leo Santa Cruz and Vasyl Lomachenko, 26 and 27, respectively, walked away victorious against overmatched foes this weekend.

Lomachenko's radiant yellow gloves and golden fists shined brightest, showing off surgical punching prowess in defense of his WBO recognized featherweight title, knocking out Gamalier Rodriguez in nine rounds.

Santa Cruz, too, picked up a win in the talent-laden featherweight division, whipping Jose Cayetano around the ring en route to a 10-round unanimous decision in his 126-pound debut.

Both men took care of business against unheralded opponents. They gained a level of exposure most young fighters can only dream about fighting on a gigantic pay-per-view headlined by the sport's two biggest stars.

In order to capitalize on that kind of attention, there are obvious options as to who they should be matched up against next.

Nicholas Walters

Top Rank Promotions is all in on Lomachenko and with good reason. If his professional record of 4-1 doesn't impress you, the two-time Olympic gold medalist's 396-1 mark as an amateur just might.

The Ukrainian had a real wake-up call against the ruthless Orlando Salido in March 2014, dropping a split decision to the former world champion, but is all the better for that rough encounter. He's adapted to the pro ranks really well since, hitting with good power and uncanny accuracy in his next three bouts.

He's also attacking the body like a true pro—evident by the left hand that sunk into Rodriguez's solar plexus that dropped the Puerto Rican in Round 7—and is doing the little things that can make a huge difference at this level. Even something as straightforward as informing the referee when he's been hit with a low blow—a seemingly novel idea to the Lomachenko that fought Salido 14 months ago.

Promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael before his fight with Rodriguez that, "He can be one of the great, great fighters of our time."

"Hi-Tech," as the former Olympian is nicknamed, looked every bit the fistic genius his long track record would suggest in his last three fights, including a win over current title holder Gary Russell Jr. in mid-2014. "Loma" completely outboxed the swift American—a win that became all the more impressive when Russell Jr. dethroned the savage-punching Jhonny Gonzalez with ease earlier this year.

Lomachenko is due for another big test.

A unification bout with the butcher king of the featherweight division Nicholas Walters is befitting. Walters rates as the No. 1 126-pound fighter in the world by both The Ring and Transnational Boxing Rankings (TBRB) after chopping down former pound-for-pound claimant Nonito Donaire in six rounds.

Walters is the man to beat, and Lomachenko is on board to do it, telling Rafael, "Of course I want to fight him."

The WBA champion fights June 13 on HBO at the Madison Square Garden in New York. An opponent has yet to be named.

Don't expect a fighter of Loma's level to make such a quick turnaround and jump in against Walters next month, but provided the Jamaican titlist keeps his unblemished record intact, a showdown between the two later this year would be a sublime clash of styles and might even create a new lineage at featherweight, the first true champion since Mikey Garcia in 2013. 

Abner Mares

It's safe to say there isn't a fighter alive more criticized for his level of opposition than Santa Cruz.

His last three fights have been made up of men with spotty records and even spottier skill sets. Cayetano, his latest opponent, was even coming off a loss. Failing to even knock him out only made matters worse.

Most of the blame for Santa Cruz's recent run of subpar competition lies with advisor Al Haymon. But when Santa Cruz is handed over $700,000 for kicking over tomato cans like Manuel Roman (who currently holds a record of 17-4-3), it's hard to find a legitimate reason he should be turning down those offers.

The former super bantamweight champion is more than grateful, going as far as naming his newborn son after the powerful manager, per The Ring's Norm Frauenheim.

It's an eerie reminder to fans that these "fighters" we watch night in and night out are something other than just vessels for warfare and our entertainment but real-life men with families to support—no matter how much we want to believe all they care about is the legacy they leave behind in the ring.

That being said, Santa Cruz can't keep raking in big paydays fighting outright palookas. It's been over a year since beating a ranked opponent in Cristian Mijares and it'll likely be two years until he fights again since last looking overly impressive drowning notable junior featherweight Victor Terrazas with punches on the undercard of Abner Mares' stunning first-round knockout loss to Gonzalez in 2013. 

Crossing paths with fellow Haymon-advised Mares is nothing new. It should also be noted that Mares, too, has been levied with criticism recently for lackluster competition. A matchup between the two has been long discussed for their swarming styles. It's just the kind of guaranteed action that will be sure to return both men to boxing fans' good graces.

"Hopefully we get that fight next," Santa Cruz said, per BoxingScene.com's Jake Donovan, following the young star's routine win this weekend. "I'll talk to my team, and hopefully we can make it happen."

Hopefully they do. But if he doesn't and ends up tackling another third-rate can instead, he's no less of a man for it. 

He's just less of a fighter.

Donned on the cover of the official programme for Josh Warrington's world featherweight title eliminator with Dennis Tubieron is a photoshopped image of the "Leeds Warrior" in a celebratory pose.

Video: #LeedsWarrior @Josh_Warrington calls on 10,000 fight fans to raise the roof http://t.co/m8Q68nfKjr #WeAreLeeds pic.twitter.com/K6xcYVqzMq

— YorkshireEveningPost (@LeedsNews) April 9, 2015

Down on his knees with his hands held aloft, it's a sight you'd expect to see from a striker on a football field rather than a boxer inside a ring. Similarly, Warrington's "freakish" fanbase, as promoter Eddie Hearn described it, has been likened to a loutish set of football fans.

Remarkably, Warrington sold just shy of 10,000 tickets for last Saturday's WBC bout—which he won via a unanimous decision—doubling the sales figure of his last outing in his hometown in October last year. Yet the rowdy crowd inside the First Direct Arena drew criticism on social media for their football-related chanting and aggressive antics.

An irate Hearn had this to say in the post-fight press conference:

"Someone tweeted me saying, 'All this is just football fans.' ...They say, 'They're not boxing fans—they're football fans.' Do they think football fans don't watch boxing as well? ... The crowd were great, we had a beach ball in the ring—I've never seen that before. That was a bit silly, but other than that, it wasn't bad. ... I don't see it as being hostile. Sure, there were a few beers flying around, but it's passionate. You see people with their shirts off—it means something to them."

Amid a whirlwind 18 months in which Warrington has become a British, Commonwealth and European champion, the 24-year-old former dental technician has made no secret of his support for Leeds United, and it's that affiliation with the football club that has turned him into a working-class hero to the city's people.

"Leeds like to get behind one of their own," claimed Warrington. "As I've said before, I'm just a council estate kid, and they see the hard work I've put in. Leeds United aren't doing too well, so everyone's jumped on the [boxing] buzz, and that's good.

"You get a lot of critics on social media. Maybe they don't like it for whatever reason, but how do you define what a boxing fan is? They go to football as well, does that mean they can't like boxing? ... You can be a football fan and boxing fan, too."

Never one to hide his motivation for making money, it's clear Warrington—although not yet at world level—is already one of Hearn's most valuable assets for Matchroom Sport:

"Josh is very, very lucky to have this kind of support. It's freakish, really. We've got Kell Brook, Carl Froch, Anthony Joshua, and Josh is potentially selling more than them for certain fights. At this stage of his career, he's selling five times as much as they would have been. ... He's a big Leeds United man, and the dream is to box at Elland Road. So we have to embrace it, not throw it away. ... Boxing's really good at the moment. We had 7,500 in attendance at Newcastle last week; 9,000 in Sheffield the week before for Kell Brook and nearly 10,000 in Leeds. "

With Leeds United having been scheduled to play fierce rivals Cardiff City on the same day as Warrington's fight with Tubieron, West Yorkshire police are rumoured to have influenced the decision to remove Welshman Nathan Cleverly—a Bluebirds fan—from the bill at Leeds Arena.

Cleverly is no longer on the Leeds bill due to Cardiff City playing there the same day the police had worry's over crowd trouble

— Nathan Cleverly Fans (@NathanClevFans) February 15, 2015

Although Caleb Spencer of The Cardiffian, a university newspaper, reported police have denied it, Hearn did suggest the implications were true when responding to disgruntled Cleverley fans on Twitter, which might indicate the force are wary of potential crowd trouble at Warrington's fights.

Hearn added, "It's important to me for the people in the arena to enjoy themselves, but it's also important for Sky Sports to transcend that atmosphere across to viewers at home because that's hundreds of thousands rather than 10,000.

"When you turn on the TV at home and you watch what's going on in that arena, you don't turn the channel over. You just sit there and say 'this is mental' and you want to go to it next time. But the good news is we have a kid here who can really fight."

All well and good. But what happens when, as mooted, Warrington meets Lee Selby of Barry—less than 10 miles from Cardiff—in front of 40,000 raucous fans for a world title fight in Elland Road next summer? Or, for that matter, any domestic rival with a similar football-related following in the future? I predict a riot.

Follow @jamiecasey37

All quotes were obtained firsthand by the author of this article. Listen to the press conference in full below.

Eddie Hearn has confirmed Matchroom Promotions are preparing to invest in boxing clubs throughout England in a bid to develop the next generation of professional boxers.

The promotor and managing director of the company plans to provide boxing clubs nationwide with financial help in order to build on an increase in participation in the sport.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference after Josh Warrington’s unanimous-decision win over Dennis Tubieron to claim the vacant WBC International Featherweight title, Hearn identified the "Leeds Warrior" as a potential ambassador for the scheme.

He said, “I won’t bore you, but we’re launching something soon called ‘The Matchroom Boxing Foundation,’ which is investing in grassroots all over the country, and Josh will be doing a lot of investing for us in where he chooses in Leeds.

“I think he can start growing boxing from grassroots level. And it’s important because he can be a role model for those people, and, through grassroots community, clubs can grow.

“That’s how people will grow into fighters when he’s retired. It’ll be nice to create a legacy.”

Warrington is quickly becoming one of Matchroom’s most valuable fighters due to the large fanbase he has assembled in his hometown of Leeds.

The 24-year-old sold nearly 10,000 tickets for the fight with Tubieron, which also served as an official WBC Featherweight title eliminator, almost doubling the sales figure for his last fight at Leeds Arena in October last year.

What a night!Thank you Leeds as always for your support and passion @J_Warrington The journey continues! #WeAreLeeds pic.twitter.com/Z1RqX5dG2n

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) April 12, 2015

Warrington is also a European, Commonwealth and British featherweight champion and is on course for his first world-title shot next summer.

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All quotes and facts were obtained firsthand by the author of this story. Hear the press conference in full here.

Josh Warrington has the chance to impress in his own backyard again Saturday night when he faces Dennis Tubieron in Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

Having already won the British, Commonwealth and European belts at featherweight, Warrington (20-0, 4 KO) is now aiming to complete the set with a world title.

Tubieron could provide a decent test of his credentials at the highest level—the fighter from the Philippines has a 19-3-2 (8 KO) record and is ranked in the top 15 by both the WBC and the WBA. 

However, the visitor will not only have to contend with his opponent but also with a raucous crowd.

Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed on Twitter that there are very few tickets left for sale, meaning it could end up being a full house at the First Direct Arena.

When: Saturday, April 11 at 10 p.m. ET

Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England

TV: Sky Sports

Live Stream: Sky Sports (Region restricted)

Leading the way

Warrington is a promoter's dream: Not only does he win fights, but he also sells tickets.

The 24-year-old got rid of nearly 2,000 tickets himself for his European title victory over veteran Italian Davide Dieli last October, per Sky Sports.

Even the fighter himself was taken aback by the level of support he received for that fight, telling Matchroom Boxing: 

When you walk out and you’ve got that many fans behind you can’t help but buzz off it.

I remember last time here before the fight I was standing behind the doors and it was the calm before the storm.

The doors opened and there’s people hanging over bannisters and they’re slavering, "come on Josh, come on" and I’d not even walked to the ring yet.

Now, back at the same venue where he destroyed Dieli inside four rounds, Warrington has the potential to raise the roof off the relatively new First Direct Arena by beating Tubieron.

Another victory would spread a giant smile across the face of the Yorkshireman, who along with being a boxer is also a qualified dental technician.

Dennis a menace

Tubieron will be looking to spoil the party and claim the vacant WBC International featherweight title in his second attempt.

The southpaw previously fought for the strap last December. His contest with Carlo Magali ended in a majority draw, meaning the title still remains up for grabs.

Warrington said at the pre-fight press conference, per Matchroom Boxing, that he was not underestimating his opponent: 

Tubieron has boxed at a higher level.

I was speaking to Paulie Malignaggi’s trainer a few weeks ago and he’d heard of him, he said he’d seen him sparring over in America and knows he’s got a high work rate.

It’s a massive opportunity for him, guys that come out of the Philippines are fighting for their lives so they never just come over for a walkover, and give it their all.

Tubieron has been crowned WBC International champion at bantamweight during his career, while he has fought up at lightweight, too. 

Prediction

Warrington is right not to take Tubieron lightly—he is now at the stage of his career where he cannot afford to slip up and lose ground.

With that in mind, the local lad can be the toast of Leeds again by recording a 21st successive victory.

His desire to pour on the pressure and be on the front foot should see him eventually overwhelm the man nicknamed The Scorpion, with the end coming by stoppage around the halfway stage of the contest.