Eddie Hearn predicts 'wild' night in Las Vegas for IBF king Josh Warrington
- Joe Hewlett
- 28 March 2022
Las Vegas should get ready for a 'wild' night, according to promoter Eddie Hearn who is looking to help Josh Warrington fulfil his American Dream.
The "Leeds Warrior" is back at the top of the tree following his knockout victory over Kiko Martinez at the First Direct Arena on Saturday night.
In doing so, Warrington became a two-time world champion but it came at a cost. Warrington is currently recovering from a broken jaw and hand which means any talk of a summer fight is very unlikely.
Warrington has always dreamt of fighting in the United States, and his victory against Martinez has put him back in position to do so.
AND THE NEW!!!! 👊👊👊@MatchroomBoxing / @DAZNBoxing / @fdarena pic.twitter.com/IJVL6E1Ous
— Josh Warrington (@J_Warrington) March 27, 2022
Leigh Wood - another British fighter with a world title - has expressed his interest in a unification bout alongside Warrington at featherweight and it is the fight UK fans are calling for.
However, the front-runners seem to be Emanuel Navarette and Leo Santa Cruz with Warrington intent on fighting in America before he retires. And his promoter Eddie Hearn is backing the move.
Hearn said: "I just think it would be wild," when asked about Warrington fighting in Las Vegas. "It's hard to say Ricky Hatton-esque because that was just amazing.
"But Josh would take 10,000-plus to Vegas and it would be, I mean they'd have to prepare for it, Vegas.
"I know Vegas is a wild place, but they've seen nothing like this. We took 800 once to Germany when Josh had an eight-rounder, 800, and they're are still getting over that, not the 800, Germany. So it would be wild."
Hearn added: "Because we've got a television deal in America - normally you'd hope that you can make a fight with someone else - but we can use one of our dates in America for that.
"Really, it's (WBA super-featherweight champion Leo) Santa Cruz or (WBO champion Emanuel) Navarrete, that's the two unifications.
"But at the same time Leigh Wood is there. City Ground? I think if you asked Josh, he would say, 'I want the American one'.
"But the Leigh Wood fight is a big-money fight. It's a really good fight as well, really good."
Wood, 33, is the WBA titlist and his stock is at an all-time high after beating Michael Conlan in the final round of their epic bout.
About a potential all-British clash, Hearn said: "It's up to both of them. If Josh says no, Wood doesn't get it. If Wood says no, Josh doesn't get it.
"It's going to take a lot to deter Josh from the American fight. You've got to ask how many has he got left? One, two, three?
"If you don't take it now you may never get it. I think he'd do 20,000 at the City Ground, travelling. And I think Leigh Wood would do 20,000 from Nottingham.
"I'm not even sure it can hold 40,000, but whatever it was, I think they'd both fill it and you don't normally get that do you?
"Rarely do you get half-and-half in a 30,000-seat stadium, so it would be pretty special."
