Exclusive: Josh Warrington backs Leeds Utd to recover from 'little stumble'

The 29-year-old, who is a regular attender at Elland Road, has special memories at the ground having captured the IBF title against Lee Selby in 2018.

It was a special night in British boxing and a spectacle none of the 25,000 in attendance will forget. The 'Leeds Warrior' was accompanied to the ring by none other than former Whites skipper Lucas Radebe. The ex defender is one of the most fondly thought of footballers from the side in the past 25 years.

Due to the likes of English duo Rio Ferdinand and Jonathon Woodgate, the media never really appreciated the quality of Radebe, who was an integral part of a Leeds United side which reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League under David O'Leary in 2002/03.

To put his popularity into perspective, probably 50% of the next generation in Leeds are called Lucas because of the man...so I guess you can imagine the reception the 'Chief' received that night alongside Warrington.

The crowd had already gone berserk moments before Warrington's entrance from the tunnel after being entertained by Ricky Wilson's Kaiser Chiefs, who belted out monster hits such as 'Ruby Ruby Ruby' and 'I Predict a Riot'. The band's name is taken from South African outfit Kaizer Chiefs; in honour of the first team Radebe played for - which is another example of the impact the 50-year-old has had in the community.

Warrington, who was at Headingley Stadium on Thursday, February 13 to announce his blockbuster deal with Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn, remains upbeat about the chances of a Premier League return under Marcelo Bielsa.

"Why did you giggle then?" Warrington snapped back at me after asking him about the current form of Leeds and whether they can return to England's top tier this season.

"I think so, yeah [on gaining promotion]. We've had a little stumble and a recent dip in form but it's about what happens and where we are at the end of the season so if we can get back into form on the home stretch then I think we'll be there.

"I see the lads and go to the Thorp Arch to see them train. I just leave them to it and keep quiet in the stands. It depends where it is and then we'll see."

Warrington's next fight is expected to take place in May with Headingley Stadium favourite to host the event. Many names have been touted, with Gary Russell Jr., Xu Can and Shakur Stevenson all interested in a lucrative unification at 126-pounds.

If the fans could choose, Stevenson would be selected from the trio of names mentioned above. It helps that Stevenson, who Warrington referred to as a 'gobshite' in the interview, has been calling out Warrington's name out in recent months.

Warrington believes Stevenson, represented by Top Rank's Bob Arum, may crumble in front of 20,000+ northerners this summer should he agree to fight him.

"He seems like quite an emotional guy, he screams and shouts so I think he would be probably get a little worked up but I don't know, he's never been in that type of scenario before so you don't know how you're going to react to it until you're put into it so we'll see won't we."