IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington tops the bill at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England when he defends his title against Kid Galahad on Saturday, June 15th. Warrington has eschewed the superstar lifestyle since becoming world champion in May of last year, albeit with one concession, in that he now has a maid. Other than that, life hasn’t changed too much for the down-to-earth champion since he battered down Lee Selby to take ownership of his prize possession.
Warrington's first defense came in Manchester in December when he overwhelmed Northern Ireland’s national treasure and two-weight champion Carl Frampton over twelve rounds to cement his place as a featherweight king of considerable standing.
However, away from the bright lights and the glare of the television cameras, Warrington goes about his daily routine that now excludes a spot of dusting. He has long been accustomed to being a recognizable face in his native city but the champio is now getting used to wider acclaim. “I have always been alright in Leeds because, obviously, for a long time I have been topping the shows,” he reasoned. “I’ve kind of got used to that over the years. I think for the last four or five years I’ve been noticed in the local supermarket or just walking up and down in the city of Leeds. It is when you go into other cities and start getting noticed and people come over to you and say the fight with Frampton or Selby was one of the best they’ve seen. That means a lot because there are many genuine boxing fans out there who see your fights and when they say they are some of the best, it does take you back a little bit.”
Not that the 28 year-old is about to develop an incurable ego. Getting down and dirty with a poop scoop is as good a prevention as any. “Apart from that, I don’t get worked up about the fame game. I’ve got a cleaner [maid] now at home! I still pick up the dog poo though so nothing has changed there and I still have to go for a pint of milk if we run out. That is my life, I keep a small circle around me, keeping focused and keeping grounded. I’ll think I’m a big shot when I retire. I’ll start telling folk ‘I used to be world champion back in the day’.”
Also on the card, super featherweights Zelfa Barrett and Lyon Woodstock meet for the Commonwealth title, with Jason Welborn and JJ Metcalf also vying for the vacant Commonwealth junior middleweight championship.
