Josh Warrington exclusive diary: I want it too much – I’m obsessed

Two-time featherweight world champion, Josh Warrington, will be part of a star studded cast when he fights IBF super featherweight champion, Anthony Cacace, at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.

Daniel Dubois’ IBF heavyweight title defence against Anthony Joshua headlines the show and is supported by a quality undercard. There will be 96,000 fans in attendance and even for a fighter like Warrington who has sold out stadiums before, it promises to be a special night.

After spending month after frustrating month being linked to a rematch with his Nottingham rival, Leigh Wood, the opportunity to step up a weight class and take on Cacace came out of the blue but Warrington is in no mood to let the chance pass him by.

Fighting on a Riyadh Season show brings with it a different level of attention and a whole series of media obligations – including the now standard spectacular promotional video – but although Warrington has enjoyed the build-up, his focus is firmly on beating Cacace.

“I’m going to be focused”

Warrington took some time out to tell 32Red about his thoughts on the Irishman, the experience of fighting in a stadium and what he hopes is the start of an acting career.

“I’m looking forward to going down there and getting the week under way now.

“So far, it’s just been a normal camp. I train my b*****ks off and go through the game plans and stuff but there’s been extra little bits such as doing the crossovers with other TV networks and a lot of promo, which has been quite exciting.

“I loved filming the promo to be honest with you. I never thought when I was growing up on a council estate that I’d want to be an actor or anything like that but, bloody hell, I came home and I’m telling Natasha I want to go to acting school, put the guitar to one side. Listen, even if I’m just pulling a pint in The Woolpack on Emmerdale, that’ll do me.

“The scope of what went into it was absolutely crazy. I’ve obviously done lots of promos over the years with different TV networks for different things and we had a documentary made as well so I’ve got an idea but this was just another level. There were so many people there, so many bodies.

“I think there were around 50 people in this catering team feeding everybody and that was just in one day alone. They had like 15 makeup people, costume designers, and all the camera men and stuff like that.

“It was an experience, that’s for sure.

“In the ring, the blinkers go on”

“I’ve been asked about fighting in front of so many people at Wembley Stadium.

“I’ve thought about this and I’ve been asked if it’s going to mean more pressure and things like that? Ultimately, it doesn’t matter.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m fighting in my f*****g garden. I’m going to be focused on the person stood in front of me. With experience, I do know that once you’re in the ring, you may see people at ringside and stuff like that but you’re not going to see the stands because they’re so far away.

“It’s not like Leeds Arena where if I get in a clinch and glance up there’s thousands of people looking at you. It’s not like that, because it’s just so big. The people aren’t far away not to be able to watch you but they’re too far away for me to really pay attention. Obviously, it’s going to be dark as well.

“Going into that the last fight [against Leigh Wood], it was just a case of just enjoy it. Enjoy walking to the ring, enjoy being able to switch on when the moment comes. That’s what I’ll be doing on the 21st. I’ll acknowledge a few people as I’m walking, but as soon as you get in the ring, the blinkers go on and that’s it.

“I want it far too much”

“I don’t know what will be the difference here. It could be the fact of having more experience. Living the life in between fights could be the key. I feel like I want it too much. I want it far too much. Even at this stage – the last stage of my career – I want it too much. I’m obsessed.

“I can say I’ve had some of these big occasions. He might not be fazed by it whatsoever but he might have been looking past us. He looked at the last one and thought, ‘Warrington got knocked out last time out and I’m going to be huge.’

“He keeps on mentioning how big he’s going to be but we’re still going to make nine stone four and there’s only so much food and fluid you can put in your body in 30 hours. Yeah, he might be bigger than me but it doesn’t always work.

“He’s been outboxed, hasn’t he? He keeps talking about what he’s going to do and how he’s going to treat the fight but he’s been outboxed. Martin J. Ward outboxed him. He keeps talking about me powering forward and that he can decide to do whatever the f**k he wants. I don’t think Carl Frampton had that luxury when he boxed me so it’s all right saying what you’re going to do, but listen, I’m not walking forward in straight lines.

“That thing about him overlooking us. Things I’ve seen and heard, that’s what I’m thinking they might be doing.”

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