Undefeated Leeds fighter Josh Warrington will look to further boost his chances of securing a featherweight world title shot this Saturday night, as he goes head-to-head with visiting Irish challenger Patrick Hyland on home soil.
At the First Direct Arena, Warrington (23-0, 4 KOs) will also put his WBC international title on the line against Dublin contender Hyland (31-2, 15 KOs) in what could be another thrilling encounter on Yorkshire territory.
The 25-year-old home favourite will have the backing of a rapturous 13k crowd, as he looks to follow up his gripping 12-round war against Japan’s Hisashi Amagasa with another victory, and he is odds-on 8/13 with Coral to earn a fourth successive points success.
Warrington has made the First Direct Arena his home fortress in recent years, with five of his last six fights having been won at the venue, and he will be seeking further success this weekend but is expecting a tough test from his latest foe.
“There’s a lot at risk against Patrick but that’s how it should be,” stated Warrington, who is 5/2 to stop Hyland. “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.”
Hyland hopes to halt Warrington run
Tallaght-born fighter Hyland will enter proceedings on Saturday night at 7/1 to halt Warrington on his travels, with the 32-year-old looking for a positive backlash from his April loss to Russell Jr on American soil.
“I’ve got a lot of fans coming over and the atmosphere is going to be electric,” outlined the Irishman. “I’ve seen a lot of Josh’s fights and the noise is deafening so I can’t wait to be part of it.
“Gary Russell Jr is the best in the division. He is so, so fast and speed kills in this sport, but this is a different fight.
“I like how Josh fights and I’ve wanted to get in there with him to test him out and try to take that future world title shot that he’s looking at for myself. I think that we’ll end up standing toe-to-toe and giving the fans a real war.”
Hyland’s aggressive approach in the ring is sure to test Warrington to the limit and, after the latter’s gruelling clash with Amagasa earlier this year, fans can expect another all out war this Saturday night.
Campbell stars on undercard against Mendez
Hull’s Luke Campbell (13-1, 11 KOs) will feature on an exciting undercard in Leeds, with the 2012 Olympic Gold medallist facing another testing fight against former world champion Argenis Mendez (23-4-1, 12 KOs).
The 28-year-old recovered from his shock defeat at the hands of Yvan Mendy in London last December when toppling Gary Sykes last time out in March, winning the vacant commonwealth lightweight strap in the process.
Campbell will look to continue his resurgence and is the odds-on 1/4 favourite to prevail, while former IBF super-bantamweight champion Mendez will enter at 3/1 to hand the talented Yorkshireman another career setback.
Meanwhile, Huddersfield’s Tyrone Nurse (1/3) defends his British light-welterweight title in an all-Yorkshire meeting with Hull’s Tommy Coyle (9/4), with bitter heavyweight rivals Dillian Whyte (1/7) and Dave Allen (4/1) colliding for the vacant WBC international belt too.
Also, Barnsley’s Josh Wale (7/1) takes on Birmingham’s unbeaten starlet Gamal Yafai (1/16), and promising Belfast fighter Ryan Burnett defends his WBC international bantamweight title.
