Leeds fans are still raving about Sunday’s last-gasp win over Norwich at Elland Road, but boxer Josh Warrington has made a shock admission about the game.
Former world champion Warrington is a regular at Elland Road and was there on Sunday to support Leeds in their huge relegation clash with the Canaries. But he has revealed he left with 20 minutes remaining with Leeds winning 1-0 because he had to go home. He missed all the drama as Norwich were awarded a penalty and then had the decision overturned, the Canaries then equalised in the 91st minute before supersub Joe Gelhardt came on and scored the winner in the 94th minute.
Warrington told Mirror Sport: “I was there, but I left after 70 minutes because I had to get home and get something done. Obviously when I was listening to it on the radio I was thinking ‘Oh man! I can’t believe we have thrown it away’. And then a few minutes later, we came back and it was absolute pandemonium. Gutted to have missed that last little bit and drama, but at the same time I’m sure my nerves would have been through the roof if I had been there.”
Warrington, 31, is in his final preparations for his IBF featherweight title clash with champion Kiko Martinez at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on March 26. The Leeds fighter is bidding to win back his IBF crown and become a two-time world champion.
“Obviously when I was listening to it on the radio I was thinking ‘Oh man! I can’t believe we have thrown it away’ and then a few minutes later, we came back and it was absolute pandemonium. Gutted to have missed that last little bit and drama, but at the same time I’m sure my nerves would have been through the roof if I had been there.”
Warrington, 31, is in his final preparations for his IBF featherweight title clash with champion Kiko Martinez at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on March 26. The Leeds fighter is bidding to win back his IBF crown and become a two-time world champion. Leeds are not in action that weekend because it is during the international break and Luke Ayling and some of the other players will come to support him. Warrington still finds it strange that they want to come and cheer him on when he has grown up supporting them.
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“Yeah, I’ve heard a few are coming down,” he said. “I always get support off the boys, which is very nice. Luke Ayling was at my last fight against Mauricio Lara in September and he’s coming to this one as well as well as some of the other boys. It’s great to have their support and I pinch myself at times because, I know they’re only human beings like myself, but I scream and shout their names at most home games so when they come and support me it blows my mind a bit. It’s much appreciated and they’re a great bunch of lads.”
Leeds’ win over Norwich has boosted their survival hopes and Warrington says he is taking inspiration from their fighting spirit. He is bidding to get back on top after suffering his first pro loss to Lara 13 months ago before their rematch in September ended in a technical draw.
“Yeah, most definitely,” he said. “You can take inspiration from a lot of things. It’s that never-say-die attitude they are showing, we’re down, but we’re not out, we’ll keep on fighting. It was a very, very late show, but that’s what Leeds fans want to see. It’s not done until it’s done. We will keep on fighting and that’s what I will do as well.”
