‘At times I hated him’ – Josh Warrington vows not to follow his dad’s ‘horrible’ coaching techniques with his own son
JOSH WARRINGTON has finally got a little boy in his family corner but could never coach him like his dad did.
The 34-year-old suffered his third consecutive loss, to Anthony Cacace, last September but ended the year with the Christmas gift of son Oran.
The two-time featherweight world champion already had twin daughters with wife Natasha and now has a male heir to the Warrington legacy.
But the Leeds hero, who fights Asad Asif Khan on Saturday, doesn’t think he could ever coach his lad, after the partnership almost destroyed the relationship with him and dad and trainer Sean.
“There were horrible and hard times when I hated my dad,” he told SunSport.
“Boxing can do that to a father and son, no matter how close they are and how much they love each other.
“There were times when my dad had to push me to breaking point – mentally and physically – and times when he had to be brutally honest with me.
“Those moments made me a world champion and I am grateful for them and they made our successes even more meaningful.
“But I don’t think I could do that with my son.
“The high points in boxing are brilliant and sharing them with your dad, in your corner, is great.
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“But the lows are horrible and going through that with your dad – and not just a trainer – is a very difficult thing to manage and cope with.”
Sadly the lows have come thick and fast for the Elland Road regular.
A hat-trick of losses, after a magnificent career, led to him laying down his gloves in the Wembley ring after the Irishman dominated him at his new super-featherweight.
The tough Yorkshireman could not bottle up his emotions any longer and was devastated for weeks.
But an outpouring of support and the X-rated backing from his old-school father helped him get back in the ring and a fight with Mick Conlan is now being targeted.
He told us: “When I laid down my gloves, I meant it.
“I then spent about three weeks just crying. I hid away and didn’t want to see anyone.
“But slowly I started seeing people and getting messages and dad told me to stop being a ‘silly c***’ and I got back in the gym and got focused again.
I don’t know how I or anyone can fill the void of a sport and a job that has been all I have known since I was nine years old.
Josh Warrington
“I am not silly and I am not deluded and the people around me care about me and are honest with me.
“When I said I wanted to carry on, my dad and my wife and my manager backed me and that’s what I needed.”
British fight fans don’t like to see their heroes – like Warrington, Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora – go on too long and spend the rest of their lives suffering.
The business has a horrible way of chewing up even the biggest and bravest men.
But Warrington – who admits the idea of retirement scares him – insists he will not be abused by the hurt game.
He said: “I don’t know what I will do without boxing, even with a lovely family and other interests and hobbies.
“I don’t know how I or anyone can fill the void of a sport and a job that has been all I have known since I was nine years old.
“I understand why some fighters end up using drink and drugs and lose their way and it’s such a shame.
“But I will know when to hang my gloves up – I will not become a stepping-stone opponent.
“I just want to finish on a performance that I and the fans can be proud of and I know I still have that in my locker.”