DOMINIC INGLE has accused Josh Warrington of beating Carl Frampton and Lee Selby when the pair were on the slide.

Warrington (28-0, 6KOs) took the IBF featherweight title from Selby in a huge upset 12 months ago and surprised Frampton in December in his first defence.

Next up is Ingle trained mandatory challenger, Kid Galahad (26-0, 15KOs) at First Direct Arena, Leeds on Saturday June 15.

Warrington is the favourite to retain his crown in his backyard, but Ingle insists that the champion will be shocked by his Sheffield rival.

Ingle said: “Warrington has had success with Frampton and Selby by jumping on them full steam ahead and they have been unable to keep him off.

“Maybe that is down to Selby and Frampton being past the sell-by date.

“I think Galahad has got more ambition than Selby and Frampton. Those results complimented Warrington.

“What he has with Galahad is a kid who is unbeaten, fresh, and fought himself into the mandatory position by going over to Boston and beating Toka Kahn Clary.

“Josh beat up a washed up Dennis Ceylan in his final eliminator, we went into someone’s back yard and won it.

“Galahad is very controlled and precise. The accuracy will keep Warrington off. He can’t keep walking into those type of shots and that is basically what Warrington is going to do.

“He is going to box the same way he has always had success at and hope for the best.

“But, for once he is getting someone who is fitter than him, fresher than him who can box and slow that pace down.”

Josh Warrington tops the bill at First Direct Arena, Leeds when he defends his IBF featherweight championship against Kid Galahad on Saturday June 15.

Leading super featherweights Zelfa Barrett and Lyon Woodstock meet in a hotly anticipated clash for the Commonwealth title, with Jason Welborn and JJ Metcalf also vying for the vacant Commonwealth super welterweight championship.

Other fighters confirmed in action on the bill so far include Lyndon Arthur, Alex Dickinson, Tommy Fury, Mark Heffron, Jack McGann and Troy Williamson.

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

£450 – Hospitality
£300 – Floor
£200 – Floor
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£75 – Tier
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£40 – Tier

KID GALAHAD has taken to social media to taunt his rival Josh Warrington after Warrington’s beloved Leeds United were defeated by Derby County last night in the Play-Off semi final.

Leeds were a goal to the good after the first leg of the Play-Off semi-final but succumbed to a devastating 4-2 home defeat and have now missed out on a place among English Football’s elite in the Premier League.

Galahad, 26-0, posted a picture on his official twitter page of LUFC star Stuart Dallas laying on the ground in disappointment after losing the game and captioned it with a ‘look’ emoji, highlighting the heartbreaking loss for Leeds United and no doubt for Josh Warrington.

Sheffield’s Galahad will be looking to inflict another upset defeat for Leeds fans on June 15 at the First Direct Arena when he attempts to dethrone local hero Josh Warrington and become the IBF World Featherweight Champion.

Warrington had earlier predicted a Leeds United win and will not have taken kindly to Galahad’s online taunts.

It’s been a spicy build up to one of the most anticipated fights of 2019 and this latest development will only add more fuel to the fire.

Josh Warrington tops the bill at First Direct Arena, Leeds when he defends his IBF featherweight championship against Kid Galahad on Saturday June 15.

Leading super featherweights Zelfa Barrett and Lyon Woodstock meet in a hotly anticipated clash for the Commonwealth title, with Jason Welborn and JJ Metcalf also vying for the vacant Commonwealth super welterweight championship.

Other fighters confirmed in action on the bill so far include Lyndon Arthur, Alex Dickinson, Tommy Fury, Mark Heffron, Jack McGann and Troy Williamson.

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

£450 – Hospitality
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KID GALAHAD enters his world title challenge against Josh Warrington knowing it will be his one and only shot at becoming one of boxing’s elite, according to trainer Dominic Ingle.

The Sheffield slickster challenges for Yorkshire rival Warrington’s IBF featherweight championship at First Direct Arena Leeds on Saturday June 15.

Warrington (28-0, 6 KOs) will be making the second defence of his crown. He won his treasured belt against Lee Selby last May and then came through a war against Carl Frampton.

Galahad (26-0, 15 KOs) has struggled to get big fights and had to become mandatory contender for Warrington’s title to get his crack at the big prize.

Ingle knows his man is avoided and says: “Kid Galahad is never gonna get another chance. He has got to capitalise. It is a do or death situation for Kid Galahad.

“He is never going to get the breaks, he has never had a promoter behind him and still managed to get into the mandatory position.

“That says something about his ability and focus, determination and relentlessness. He has got the same mental make-up as Johnny Nelson.

“He has never had it easy and got in this position himself. Others we had in the gym have fallen by the wayside but he has learnt from them.

“We have had fighters who shone for a period of time like Naseem Hamed, Ryan Rhodes and to a lesser degree Junior Witter.

“They have got into the position of being a world champion, but it’s whether you can maintain it once you’re there.

“The thing with Galahad is that he has no responsibilities – he isn’t married, no children and no safety net.

“If he loses he has nowhere to go on the Sunday morning after the fight. Josh can go home have a cuddle from his wife, see his kids and think; ‘I’ve had a good run and got a few quid’. He can console himself with that.

“There will be no consolation for Kid Galahad. The only consolation for him will be waking up on Sunday morning with the belt. That is where the determination comes in.

“Everything to him is boxing he has nothing else. It is his life.”

Josh Warrington tops the bill at First Direct Arena, Leeds when he defends his IBF featherweight championship against Kid Galahad on Saturday June 15.

Jason Welborn and JJ Metcalf meet for the vacant Commonwealth super-welterweight championship.

Other fighters confirmed in action on the bill so far include Lyndon Arthur, Zelfa Barrett, Alex Dickinson, Tommy Fury, Mark Heffron, Jack McGann and Troy Williamson.

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

£450 – Hospitality

£300 – Floor

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JOSH WARRINGTON MAKES a second defence of his IBF world featherweight title against mandatory challenger Kid Galahad at the FD Arena in Leeds on June 15 and a number of the supporting acts to this huge main event can now be revealed.

English super featherweight champion Zelfa Barrett will have his second fight – his first being this weekend in Oldham – since recovering from an Achilles injury that has kept him out of the ring since June of last year.

Barrett, 20-1, will be bidding to firmly re-establish himself amongst the leading super feathers in the country and will work towards potential showdowns against the likes of British champion Sam Bowen, WBO European title holder Archie Sharp and Lyon Woodstock, who made a winning return in March after being defeated on points by Sharp.

Barrett will be joined on the bill by gym-mate Lyndon Arthur, 14-0, who is looking to gatecrash the burgeoning light heavyweight scene headed up domestically by mandatory world title challenger Anthony Yarde.

‘King Arthur’, who has been the executor of 11 KOs from his 14 professional fights, is a former Team GB international amateur who believes he should be considered alongside Yarde and his former GB teammate Joshua Buatsi as a formidable future force in the division.

The Team GB squad is further represented on the card by Jack Bateson, the 24-year-old featherweight who joins Josh Warrington in flying the flag for Leeds on the bill. Bateson is 9-0 since turning professional and has twice previously featured on Warrington undercards.

The ‘Trojan’, Troy Williamson will also feature at the FD Arena, with the explosive middleweight from Darlington closing in on title contention. The 27-year-old former GB star is currently 9-0-1 as a pro (6KOs) and is scheduled to target a tenth win in Newcastle in early May ahead of his Leeds date.

Middleweight banger Mark Heffron is back on BT Sport business, with the 27-year-old having put his British title defeat to Liam Williams behind him last month with a points victory over Serge Ambomo in his home town of Oldham.

Kid Dynamite has amassed a record of 22-1 with 17 of his wins coming via KO and the former WBC International champion will be looking to restore himself towards title contention in Leeds.

A third professional fight awaits Tommy Fury in Leeds, with the 19-year-old light heavyweight having impressed in his two victories to date, while Sheffield middleweight Shakiel Thompson will enter into his fourth fight, with his third taking place at the SSE Arena, Wembley this weekend on his first appearance under the Queensberry Promotions banner.

Liverpool middleweight Jack McGann (2-0-1) and Formby heavyweight Alex Dickinson (10-0) also feature on the card, with further title fights to be announced in the near future.

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

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BRITISH boxing great Ricky Hatton has warned Josh Warrington that he faces the fight of his life against Kid Galahad.

Warrington makes the second defence of his IBF world featherweight title against mandatory challenger, Galahad at the First Direct Arena, Leeds on Saturday June 15.

Hatton says Warrington’s huge army of hometown fans face a nerve jangling night when Sheffield’s Galahad gets his long-awaited world title tilt.

“This fight is as tough as they come and hard to call,” says former world super-lightweight and welterweight champion, Hatton.

‘The Hitman’ has seen Galahad from close quarters in the gym when he took boxers to spar with Galahad (26-0) and his gym-mates at the Wincobank gym.

Hatton added: “I used to take Zhanat Zhakiyanov who was WBA bantamweight champion to spar Kid Galahad. I saw then that Galahad can really fight.

“This really is a tough fight, but since Josh became world champion I think he has warmed to it.

“It’s a very good fight and you’ve got to heap all the praise on Josh Warrington.”

Warrington (28-0) caused an upset when he defeated Lee Selby 11 months ago to become world champion, and was the underdog again when he made a successful first defence against Carl Frampton.

Hatton said: “Champions are judged on how good they are by the fighters they faced. Josh has beaten Lee when he was the underdog and Carl, a multiple world champion.

“Now, he is in with another quality fighter, Kid Galahad.

“His confidence has gone up another couple of gears since becoming a world champion. He is coming off the fight against Frampton and you won’t see many better fights in a boxing ring.

“He is on the crest of a wave and while your confidence is up you might has well face these people like Kid Galahad because it needs to be up.”

Although Hatton is full of admiration for Warrington, he believes that Galahad may have more natural talent than the defending champion.

Hatton explained: “Josh has a very high work rate, he doesn’t leave you alone. Look at the Frampton fight, Carl was the better boxer and judge of distance, but Josh took that away from him.

“That is what you do with fighters who have more talent. Take the talent away – bully them, rush them and keep on top.

“I think he will employ similar tactics against Kid Galahad who is very, very talented. Josh has got a very good boxing brain and he is going to need it against Kid Galahad.

“Kid Galahad is very talented, but sometimes people with the most talent don’t win. It is about the right tactics and game plan.

“That is why I pick Josh ever so slightly, but this fight is tough.”

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

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AHEAD OF THEIR hugely anticipated World Title clash in June, champion Josh Warrington and mandatory challenger Kid Galahad faced off at the home of Leeds United yesterday.

Warrington (28-0) will be roared on by his hometown fans at First Direct Arena, Leeds when he defends his IBF world featherweight title against Galahad on Saturday June 15.

During half time of yesterday’s Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday game, the unbeaten Leeds and Sheffield featherweights came face to face for the first time since the press conference to announce their fight back in March.

At the first press conference face off, it was Warrington who felt he left with the upper hand as he was able to cause a noticeable flinch from the Dominic Ingle trained Galahad (26-0) when he leaned in slightly with his head.

This time, there was no flinching and no words from Galahad as Warrington continued to taunt his Yorkshire rival.

He said: “Do you fancy me or something? You can’t take your eyes off me!” as Galahad refused to break his gaze.

As the thousands of fans in attendance began chanting that Warrington should knock Galahad out, Warrington continued to goad Galahad and warned “On June 15th they will get their wish!”

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Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

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KID GALAHAD admits he must beat Josh Warrington or his world title hopes will be destroyed forever.

Warrington (28-0) will be roared on by his hometown fans at First Direct Arena, Leeds when he defends his IBF world featherweight title against Galahad on Saturday June 15.

Sheffield’s Galahad has been a professional since September 2009 and finally became mandatory challenger for Warrington last October when he beat Toka Kahn Clary.

There is a perception that his awkward style makes him an avoided man and Galahad (26-0) knows few champions will fancy him as a future opponent whatever the outcome against Warrington.

He said: “This is everything and 100 per-cent, I am going to leave it all in that ring.

“Not matter what I do, I am going to bring that belt back with me. I know I am not going to get a second chance.

“Things have happened to me, but I have stayed focused. With this opportunity I am not going to let it slip out of my hands.

“Josh knows he can get another chance. After I beat him his promoter will get him a rating and he might fight Carl Frampton in a rematch and the winner could fight Oscar Valdez.”

“I was banned in 2014 for 18 months and when I got back boxing it took a bit of time to get going, but that is in the past and we’re here in 2019.

“We’re closing in on this world title and we’re gonna hold it as long as we can.”

Warrington was the underdog when he took the title from Lee Selby last May and successfully defended against Carl Frampton in December.

The Leeds man will be the bookies’ favourite in his hometown, but Galahad insists those wins might not be the career defining triumphs some have painted.

Galahad says: “In 2018, Josh had a great year. He became a dad to twins, then beat Lee Selby and Carl Frampton.

“They say good things happen in three. 2019 is my year and his luck has ran out.

“I don’t believe it’s an easy fight. But style wise he knows, his dad knows and Frank knows that I am all wrong for him.

“At this moment Josh might be confident because he beat Selby and Frampton who he thinks are better than me, but when he gets in the ring he’ll wish he never took this fight.

“The timing for when he beat Selby and Frampton was perfect. Selby was struggling to make the weight and Carl hasn’t been the same for three or four years.

“I think Josh’s win over Selby was so much better than the Frampton win. I just believe he is fighting a strong featherweight who is in his prime and I believe in his head he knows what is going to happen.”

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

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KID GALAHAD has been getting tips on how to beat Josh Warrington from featherweight legend Naseem Hamed.

Mandatory contender Galahad challenges the IBF featherweight champion at First Direct Arena Leeds on Saturday June 15, after Warrington’s promoter Frank Warren won the purse bids.

Galahad (26-0, 15 KOs) was encouraged to box by Naz when he was a kid and sent him to the famous Ingle gym in Sheffield.

Now Naz is playing his part in causing the downfall of Warrington (28-0, 6 KOs), and is expected ringside on fight night supporting him.

Sheffield’s Galahad, 29, said: “I don’t want to go into too much detail, but Naz rang me, said a few things and I’ve taken them in.

“Naz would’ve loved facing someone like Josh and beaten him in no more than three rounds.

“It will last no more than six when I take Josh’s title.”

Warrington, 28, caused an upset when he won the title last May outpointing Lee Selby in front of 25,000 fans at Elland Road and in December beat Carl Frampton over 12 rounds in a classic first defence.

Galahad added: “Listen, he has two had good wins against Selby and Frampton.

“I sparred Lee when he boxed Josh and he was a completely different fighter. He was dead at the weight, but it is what is.

“I’ve got to give Josh credit and I expect him to be even better than those two performances, but I believe I am better than him in every single department.”

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

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BILLY JOE SAUNDERS suspects there is the genuine possibility of Josh Warrington overlooking the threat presented by his mandatory challenger Kid Galahad when the pair face each other with the IBF world featherweight title at stake at the FD Arena in Leeds on June 15.

Setting aside the natural bias Saunders might have for his former landlord, also known as Barry Awad, during his lengthy stint training at the Ingle Gym in Sheffield, the former middleweight world champion questions whether the Leeds man will summon up sufficient motivation for what is likely to be a highly-charged Yorkshire derby.

Saunders’ thinking is that, having chalked up such impressive victories over illustrious and favoured opponents in Lee Selby and Carl Frampton, will Warrington show the same desire against a challenger he twice defeated as an amateur and clearly doesn’t hold the highest regard for?

“Warrington is a brilliant fighter and he has had a couple of good performances but sometimes when you have a couple of good ones – I’ve been there and done it – your mind and everything else isn’t quite working the same,” considered Saunders, who returns to the ring to fight for the WBO Interim world super middleweight title against the No.1 ranked Shefat Isufi at Stevenage FC on May 18.

“He’s boxed Selby and Frampton and now he is looking at Barry thinking ‘oh it’s Kid Galahad, I beat him a couple of times’. Is that going to be decisive here, I don’t know.”

Saunders added that the will to win of his former sidekick, the also unbeaten Galahad, will be a key factor in the outcome, which he believes will result in a new champion being crowned.

“I think it is going to be a good fight but, for me, Barry has got a bit too much determination in him to lose. He has got that warrior code in him and I think he is going to do the job – I know he is going to do the job.”

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

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JOSH WARRINGTON HAS mocked the suggestion that his June 15 world title challenger Kid Galahad is an awkward customer in the ring.

The Yorkshire pair – Warrington from Leeds and Galahad hailing from Sheffield – will trade shots for the IBF featherweight belt at the FD Arena in Leeds and the world champion completely rejects the train of thought that the tricky approach of his mandatory challenger will present him with punching puzzles he is unable to solve.

“People talk about him being awkward… He is awkward if you f**king let him be!” scoffed the Leeds Warrior, who holds a perfect professional record of 28-0. “I don’t see him as awkward and we have already looked at ways we can nullify that.”

The 28-year-old continued by adding there is no supporting evidence to back up Galahad’s claim to be a featherweight force who will inflict a one-sided ‘beatdown’ to rip the title from its present owner.

“He isn’t an awkward fighter, he believes he is a super-strong this, that and the other. What are you going off? The muppets he has knocked over? The Eastern European taxi drivers… Come on man.

“I’ve proven that I can stand at the top level in terms of toe-to-toe, physicality as well. I don’t think he has, so we have yet to see, but I don’t think he is as strong as me. I don’t think any featherweight in the world is.”

Meanwhile, Warrington is also tiring of the notion that he is a sort of one-trick pony with the single asset of possessing long-life batteries; although he does acknowledge an upside in that his wider skillset is ignored by the opposition.

“People talk about me as if I just have this fantastic engine. Yeah, I do have a good engine, but it is a positive that they don’t look at what else I do too much and I know I can adapt.

“Lee Selby and Carl Frampton are two very different fighters and I was able to adapt, like I was on my road up to a world title, boxing different folk of different sizes and styles.

“I’m experienced and know how to do the 12 rounds well.”

A top quality undercard will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

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KID GALAHAD believes Josh Warrington’s feelings will be his downfall in their titanic world title clash at First Direct Arena, Leeds on Saturday June 15.

Mandatory challenger Galahad has been playing mind games with the IBF world featherweight champion even since Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren won the purse bids and announced the fight.

Galahad (26-0) first claimed that Warrington’s Dad and trainer Sean O’Hagan won’t be able to handle his son getting beaten by his fellow Yorkshireman and might throw in the towel to save him.

Now Galahad has gone in two-footed on the champion who is making the second defence of the title he won against Lee Selby and defended against Carl Frampton in December.

Sheffield’s Galahad will walk into a pit of hate when he enters enemy territory in Leeds, but insists that Warrington (28-0) will fail to handle the pressure once his fists turn up the heat.

Galahad, 29, warned: “Emotions can get you seriously hurt and Josh is an emotional man. He always goes in there with his heart on his sleeve.

“When we get in there it is going to be a very exciting night for me. When we go in there people are going to expect a very even fight, but it’s going to be a one-sided beatdown.

“It is my destiny and I am here now and I am gonna rip that title from him in his home town.”

A top quality undercard will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad are available via Ticketmaster and are priced as below:

£450 – Hospitality
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JOSH WARRINGTON AND Kid Galahad came face to face in Leeds today to formally announce their IBF world featherweight title clash, set to take place on June 15 at the FD Arena in the champion’s home city.

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Below are selected extracts from the exchanges on the top table.

Frank Warren

Josh has beaten real good quality, top line fighters and done it in style. There is no doubt in my mind after beating Carl Frampton and Lee Selby that he is the best.

Santa Cruz and Valdez are the fights that he wanted, then this fight was ordered by the IBF and Kid Galahad got there obviously by his winning record and winning an eliminator that gave him mandatory position and I’m sure he is going to give all he can to take that title back to Sheffield, but I just feel that in fighting Josh he needs to step up quite a few bars to get to his level.

When Josh fought Selby, many journalists were calling Selby the best fighter in Britain and his last fight against Carl was the best fight I have seen in a British ring for a long, long time. Josh has got this engine that is unbelievable, with the amount of punches he throws and his tremendous fitness levels.

He has come through in style and not just nicked fights, he has won the fights emphatically. Josh was probably the unfancied guy in the division and his dad has done a great job in bringing him through and deserves all the accolades. Everybody in the trade knows that and the job Sean has done is a brilliant one.

Everybody has got respect for Dominic Ingle and he is a fantastic trainer who has done tremendously well and looks after a few fighters I promote. But, he will have to pull every stop out to get Kid here over the line. He is going to have to be something very special to beat this guy, because he is a special fighter.

Dominic Ingle

Naz (Naseem Hamed) had left the gym and we weren’t on particularly good terms with Naz, but he said to Barry that the only place to go if he wanted to become world champion was the Brendan Ingle gym in Sheffield – and that is where he ended up.

This fight on June 15 is going to represent 14 years of hard work we have put into it. Naz has been in to see Barry and made comments on Josh that I am not going to tell you, but he said some nice words to Barry and said to make sure he looks after his old belt when he gets it. I think Naz is going to be there on the night and it will be great if he is.

Did Sheffield United beat Leeds the other day? So it is one down, two to go – hopefully Leeds has got an ice hockey team we can beat.

We haven’t complained about the six week delay and we know he ain’t hurt his hand, but we don’t want to be beating a kid who is not fully prepared. He’s got an extra six weeks just to make sure he can get in shape. No excuses, no complaints, we want the best Josh Warrington on the night, that is what we want.

He’s got a good 12 weeks now and we know he’s been out and had a bit of a party and eaten a bit too much.

Kid Galahad

I met Naz in a local mosque and he said to become world champion I need to go and find the Ingle gym. It has been 14-15 years since then, training every day and being hard at it. We are finally here.

I knew the IBF are very strict so I knew this fight would be on. Frank said I was right at the bottom of the list, but look where I am now at the top of the list. There were a lot of complaints from his team about things and complaining about the 35 per cent split.

It doesn’t matter, does it? It is my destiny and I am here now and I am gonna rip that title from them in his home town. All the noise just comes with the territory. If you want to be a champion, this is what you’ve got to do.

Sean O’Hagan

I like him and I’ve known Barry a long time. We’ve crossed paths before and quite rightly because he is a professional but, to be fair, he should have stayed as an amateur. And I say that with the greatest of respect, I just think this is too big a step for him, I really do.

Saying that doesn’t mean we’ll be taking this lightly because we’ll be training like we are the challenger, like we always do. So we won’t hold anything back, we won’t be taking it lightly, we’ll just prepare as we always do and that is one hundred per cent focused and switched on. Then coming away: ‘And still’.

I promise you I will be bringing the very best Josh Warrington on that day.

Josh Warrington

We had some year last year, didn’t we, with two massive fights and two massive occasions. You’ve got to give it to Barry and how daft he is. B*ll*cks to his destiny. You make your bed and lie in it and you’re gonna get it on the night, simple as that.

I wanted to carry on with the journey and carry on winning belts and world titles by fighting the best in the division. Last year we had LEE SELBY and CARL FRAMPTON! Now we’ve got F**king Barry from Sheffield… You know what I mean. It just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

I want to go on and unify the division, I believe I am the best featherweight in the world and if you offered me Santa Cruz tomorrow I would take it, but as champion this is what you’ve got to do, you’ve got to defend your belt against all challengers and on June 15 Barry is in the way.

When you look at it and break it down, he is not as awkward as people make out, only if you give him the time. Look as his level of opposition – he is stepping up a level here and I won’t find him awkward.

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad go on sale via firstdirectarena.com at 12pm on Friday 22nd March and are priced as below:

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JOSH WARRINGTON will make the second defence of his IBF world featherweight title against mandatory challenger Kid Galahad at the Leeds Arena on June 15th.

It will be a hometown return for Warrington in the all Yorkshire grudge match against his old amateur rival.

Warrington, 28, caused a big upset when he outpointed defending champion Lee Selby in front of 25,000 fans at Elland Road, home of his beloved Leeds United last May.

In December, he cemented his status as one of the boxing stars of 2018 with a thrilling points win against two weight world champion, Carl Frampton at Manchester Arena in his maiden defence.

Warrington (28-0) had being eyeing a unification clash against WBO champion, Oscar Valdez but the IBF ordered him to face Galahad and purses bids were won by the champion’s promoter, Frank Warren.

Galahad (26-0) was born in Qatar but lived in Sheffield for much of his life and learnt his skills under the tutelage of the late Brendan Ingle. He is now trained by Brendan’s son Dominic.

He became Warrington’s number one contender in October when he outpointed Toka Kahn Clary on his American debut in Boston in an IBF final eliminator.

Galahad, whose is also known as Barry Awad last boxed in December, easily outpointing Brayan Mairena over eight rounds.

Warrington, a former English, British, Commonwealth, European and WBC international champion boxed Galahad twice when they were amateurs winning both contests on points.

He said: “All of sudden people are saying I am capable of beating every featherweight in the world and with that comes expectation.

“I will go into this fight as the bookies’ favourite, but I will be 100 per-cent focused and looking to do a job.

“I knew Barry when we were amateurs and he was always a decent guy, but over the last few years he seems to have changed and put on some persona to blag fans, opponents or himself.

“He did well at super-bantamweight, but he has beaten nobody as a featherweight and he has lost respect from me for some of his antics.

“I want to be Ring Magazine champion, own all the belts and they are in touching distance. I can beat all the featherweights.

“I am concentrating purely on Barry, but after this I want one of the other world champions. I want champion after champion.”

Galahad won British, European, Commonwealth and international titles at super-bantamweight, and an IBF Intercontinental featherweight belt.

Galahad, 28, said: “Josh’s biggest asset is that people underestimate him and he is a lot better than what he looks.

“He’s strong, tough, durable and mentally strong, but I have the skill, will and mental toughness to beat him.

“He beat me fair and square when we were amateurs, but down the line I knew I would always fight him again. This is professional boxing, different game.

“Why am I the man to beat him? I know mentally that I am on a different level and I have the best team in British boxing.

“He is going to walk onto a shot, he is going to get hurt very badly and his dad who trains him will stop the fight because he will make an emotional decision and throw in the towel around round six, seven or eight.”

Warrington snapped back: “That prediction makes me giggle. It is funny how these scenarios get drawn up. He isn’t in touch with reality and talking daft. It is playground stuff.

“He can spout off what he likes, but when the first bell goes it will be me against him and we will see how special he and his team are then.”

BT Sport have the live and exclusive TV rights for Warrington v Galahad in the UK.

Tickets for Warrington v Galahad go on sale via firstdirectarena.com at 12pm on Friday 22nd March and are priced as below:

£450 – Hospitality
£300 – Floor
£200 – Floor
£150 – Floor
£100 – Floor/Tier
£70 – Tier
£50 – Tier
£40 – Tier

Jano Carroll and Guillaume Frenois battled to a 12-round split draw in an IBF Super Featherweight Elimination battle.

In round nine, Carroll began to bleed from around the right eye.

Scores were 115-113 each way, and 114-114.

Carroll, 129.6 lbs of Dublin is 16-0-1. Frenois, 129.5 lbs of France is 46-1-1.

Anthony Fowler remained perfect with a 1st round stoppage over Jose Carlos Paz in a scheduled 10-round super featherweight bout.

Fowler landed a perfect left the body that sent Paz to a knee. He did not beat the count at 1:33.

Fowler, 153.6 lbs of Liverpool is 9-0 with eight knockouts. Paz, 157.2 lbs of Argentina is 23-8-1.

Kid Galahad tuned up for a world title shot with a eight-round decision over Bryan Mairena in a super featherweight bout.

The referee score was 80-72 for Galahad, 132.1 lbs of Sheffield who is now 30-0. Mairena, 130.9 lbs of Nicaragua is 10-5-1.

Former British Olympian, Qais Ashfat stopped Jay Carney in round five of their scheduled six-round super bantamweight fight.

In round one, Ashfaq began to batter Carney, and caused a cut from the side of his nose. Ashfaq continued the beating with hard shots hat caused a cut over the right eye of Carney.

In round five, Ashfat continued to the onslaught on a game Carney. and Carney’s corner threw in the towel at 41 seconds.

Ashfaq, 126.3 lbs of Leeds is 4-0 with two knockouts. Carney, 124.7 lbs of Liverpool is 5-4-2.

Terry Harper stopped Fericge Mashury in round two if a scheduled six-round lightweight contest.

Harper landed an unanswered flurry of punches in round two, and the fight was stopped at 1:25.

Harper, 135.2 lbs of Denaby is now 5-0 with two knockouts. Mashaury, 133.5 lbs of Tanzania is now 6-2.

Kid Galahad says he wants to set up an all-Yorkshire World title battle with IBF Featherweight Champion Josh Warrington after taking the mandatory position with a win over Toka Kahn Clary at the TD Garden in Boston last month.

Galahad returns on the Kell Brook vs. Michael Zerafa undercard at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield on December 8, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US, and will be keeping a close eye on Warrington’s first defence against two-weight king Carl Frampton on December 22.

The 28-year-old, a former British, Commonwealth and European ruler, is rooting for the Champion to defeat the Belfast star so they can set up a tasty local derby in 2019 and aims to impress on in front of his home crowd next week.

“I did what I needed to do against Clary,” said Galahad. “He was very tricky and very awkward. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t knock him out to be honest with you. I knew it was going to be scrappy, he’s long and wiry, I had to break his spirit. I got the job done and now I’m looking forward to fighting back in Sheffield – I’ll be looking to end the year on a high.

“I hope Josh gets the win against Frampton. That is a huge Yorkshire derby, Leeds versus Sheffield, that’s a big fight. Now I have the mandatory position, there’s no excuses, nowhere to run for Josh or Carl. I hope they don’t vacate the title and go elsewhere, that fight has to be made. If Josh wins I don’t think he’d vacate, but Carl might as he’s done it before, he vacated the WBA instead of fighting Guillermo Rigondeaux.

“It’s a great division with Leo Santa Cruz, Gary Russell Jr. and Oscar Valdez in there as Champions. Back home obviously there’s Josh, Carl and Scott Quigg. I don’t like Scott, he thinks he’s better than he is, and I’d love to smash him. Scott has come up short and I think that people would expect me to win, so I’d rather fight Josh or Carl, we’re the big three in Britain.”

Galahad features on a huge night of boxing in the Steel City.

Unbeaten Irish star Jono Carroll faces French former European Champion Guillaume Frenois in a final eliminator to become mandatory challenger to IBF Super-Featherweight World Champion Tevin Farmer.

Rising Welterweight star Josh Kelly steps up in class as he takes on former WBA World Champion David Avanesyan in his ninth professional contest and explosive Liverpool Super-Welterweight Anthony Fowler is in title action as he targets a showdown with newly-crowned British Champion Ted Cheeseman in 2019

Sheffield is well represented on the undercard with Welterweight Anthony Tomlinson, Super-Middleweight Callum Hancock and Middleweight Shakiel Thompson all in action, while Leeds Super-Bantamweight Qais Ashfaq and Denaby Lightweight Terri Harper also feature.

Tickets for Brook vs. Zerafa priced at £40, £60, £100 and £200 (Inner Ring VIP) are available to purchase via StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk) FlyDSA Arena (www.flydsaarena.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com)

Demetrius Andrade became a three-time, and now two-division world champion as he won the WBO Middleweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated and unheralded Walter Kautondokwa at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

In round one, Andrade landed a grazing left at the same time the feet got tangled and Kautondokwa fell to the canvas. Andrade landed a left while Kautondowkwa was on the ground but it was ruled a clean knockdown by referee Steve Willis. n round three, Andrade drilled Kautondokwa with a perfect left hand that sent him to the canvas for a 2nd time. In round four, both fighters landed hard shots, but it was Kautondokwa who hit the canvas. Moments later it was an inside right hook that put Kautondokwa down again.

Andrade cruised home to the victory by scores of 120-104 twice and 119-105 to raise his mark to 26-0. Kautondokwa of Namibia is 17-1.

Katie Taylor remained undefeated as she defended the IBF/WBA Lightweight titles with a 10-round unanimous decision over Cindy Serrano.

Taylor of Ireland won by scores of 100-90 on all cards, and is now 11-0. Serrano of Brooklyn, NY is 27-6-3.

Tevin Farmer retained the IBF Junior Lightweight title with a dominating 5th round stoppage over James Tennyson.

In round four, Farmer dropped Tennyson with a hard left to the body. Farmer ended things in the next round when he landed a hard left that sent Tennyson to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 1:44.

Farmer of Philadelphia is now 27-4-1 with six knockouts. Tennyson of Ireland is 22-3.

Kid Galahad won a 12-round unanimous decision over Toka Khan Clary in a featherweight bout.

Galahad of Sheffield, England won by scores of 118-110 twice and 115-113 to raise his perfect mark to 26-0. Clary of Providence, RI is 25-2.

Tommy Coyle won a 10-round unanimous decision over Ryan Kielczewski in a lightweight bout.

In round five, Kielczewski started to bleed from his nostrils.

In round seven, Coyle scored a knockdown with a right hand.

Coyle, 136.4 lbs of Hull, UK won by scores of 99-90 98-91 and 96-93, and is now 25-4. Kielczewski, 138 lbs of Quincy MA is 29-4.

Former world champion Scott Quigg stopped Mario Briones in round two of their scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout.

Quigg unloaded with a hard combination on the ropes and the fight was stopped at 1:12 of round two.

Quigg, 129.4 lbs of Bury, UK 35-2-2 with 26 knockouts. Briones, 130 lbs of Mexico 29-8-2.

Mark DeLuca avenged his only professional defeat by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Walter Wright in a junior middleweight fight.

DeLuca, 153 3/4 lbs of Whittam, MA won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice.

DeLuca is 22-1. Wright, 154 lbs of Seattle is 17-4.

Daniyar Yeleussinov stopped Matt Doherty in the 1st round of their scheduled six-round welterweight bout.

Yeleussinov landed several hard body shots that was followed by an explosive combination to the head and referee Arthur Mercante stopped the bout at 2:33

Yeleussinov, 148 lbs of Kazakhstan is 4-0 with two knockouts. Doherty, 146.8 lbs of Salem, MA is 8-6-1.

Niall Kennedy remained undfeated with a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Brendan Barrett in a heavyweight bout.

In round four, Kennedy was cut around the left eye. In round five, Kennedy landed a hard right that staggered Barrett into the ropes and then to the canvas fir a knockdown. Barrett got to his feet with a mouse under his right eye.

Kennedy, 221 lbs of Ireland won by scores of 60-53 twice and 58-55, and is now 12-0-1. Barrett, 238 lbs of Little Egg Harbor, NJ is 7-1-2.