Josh Warrington to be joined on ring walk by Leeds midfielder Pablo Hernandez for IBF featherweight title fight
Josh Warrington has announced that Pablo Hernandez will accompany him to the ring for his IBF featherweight title fight against Sofia Takoucht this weekend.
The Leeds-born fighter will make the third defence of his title, since beating Lee Selby at Elland Road back in 2018, when he takes on his mandatory challenger.
It has become something of a tradition for Warrington to walk into battle with a Leeds player by his side, having had captain Liam Cooper, Gaetano Berardi and Jamie Shackleton, Vinnie Jones, Jermaine Beckford and legendary defender Lucas Radebe alongside him.
Hernandez, the former Valencia and Swansea midfielder, arrived on loan in 2016 before making a permanent switch the following year.
He is currently sidelined with after picking up an injury against Derby last month, but the Spaniard is expected to make a return to action after the international break.
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"[Hernandez] was arguably one of our best players last season," Warrington told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
"He has brought passion and selfless commitment to the club. He's Leeds."
'The Leeds Warrior' who beat Kid Galahad by split decision in June, said in September, he would be willing to face Vasyl Lomachenko back at featherweight, should the latter move down from lightweight.
“He’s a fantastic champion and a multi-weight champion, of course I’d want to have a go. He’s not a spring chicken and he’s not getting any younger.
“I’m not saying he’s past it or he’s on the slide because he looked red-hot against Luke Campbell.
“It was fascinating to watch, as a boxing fan, how he implemented his game plan, he just changed what he had to do to break Luke Campbell down.
“It was unbelievable, but if he came back to featherweight I’d put my hand up.”