Josh Warrington shocks Lee Selby to win world title at Elland Road with points victory

Josh Warrington on his way to victory over Lee Selby [Photo: Courtesy]

Josh Warrington edged a war with Lee Selby in front of 20,000 raucous fans at Elland Road to become Leeds’ first world champion.

Warrington showed great heart as he won by a split decision to dethrone Britain’s longest-reigning world champion of three years to claim his IBF featherweight title.

Selby celebrates at the final bell [Photo: Courtesy]

Warrington won 116-112, 115-113 on two scorecards, while the third saw the fight 115-113 for Selby.

The Leeds fighter deserved his success and he came after Selby all night.

Carl Frampton was ringside and he would love to meet Warrington at his big Windsor Park show on August 18.

Promoter Frank Warren may have other ideas and he may prefer to keep both of his two big box office stars apart for now.

Warrington realises the enormity of his victory [Photo: Courtesy]

Everything had been set up for Warrington to and he delivered in the greatest night of his career to extend his perfect record to 27-0.

He was fighting at the home of his beloved Leeds United, Whites legend Lucas Radebe accompanied him on his ring walk, while the Kaiser Chiefs played ‘I Predict a Riot’.

There were over 20,000 of his pumped-up fans inside Elland Road cheering him on compared to the 500 or so, who had travelled up from South Wales to support Selby.

Warrington celebrates winning the fight with his wife Natasha [Photo: Courtesy]

Fired-up Warrington went for Selby in the first and caught him with a couple of left hooks before the Barry fighter countered with a stinging right.

This was a real tear-up and the roof nearly came off Elland Road when Warrington briefly hurt Selby in the second with a right. The champ suffered a nasty cut to the side of his left eye in a suspected clash of heads, although the blood trickled down his cheek and away from his eye.

Warrington fed off the raucous atmosphere and closed the distance well to make Selby miss. He had success in the pocket unloading his left hook and Selby’s timing was off.

Warrington lands on Selby once again [Photo: Courtesy]

Selby began to enjoy some success from the fourth round onwards as he stood off and picked off the challenger.

Selby suffered a second smaller cut above his right eye and referee Michael Alexander stopped the action in round six for the ringside doctor to give him the all-clear to continue.

Selby was badly cut early in the fight [Photo: Courtesy]

The gutsy Welshman dug deep and found his range, landing a huge left hook followed by a right to the body.

The champion, his face a bloody mess, finally capitalized on his superior reach to catch Warrington and the home fighter’s work was less effective than it had been in the first rounds.

Warrington with his newly-acquired world title [Photo: Courtesy]

Selby receives treatment in his corner [Photo: Courtesy]

Both men emptied their tanks in the last round as they gave every last ounce of energy they had, swinging right to the end.

Warrington held his arms aloft in celebration at the end and his victory was confirmed minutes later.