IBF world featherweight king Lee Selby has stirred the melting pot ahead of Saturday’s big domestic showdown Josh Warrington by declaring “the more people I upset in Leeds the better”.

Selby makes the fifth defence of his title at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium knowing victory could set him up for a mouth-watering fight against Northern Ireland’s Carl Frampton.

There is no love lost

between Selby, 31, and Warrington, and nothing would give the mandatory challenger more pleasure than dethroning the champion on home soil.

But St Joseph’s ace Selby has every intention of ending Warrington’s unbeaten record, which currently stands at 26-0, and silencing the Yorkshireman’s army of fans.

And Tony Borg-trained Selby, from Barry, reckons he will provide Warrington with a challenge the 27-year-old is yet to experience in the professional ranks.

“He can expect a fight like he’s never had before,” stated Selby. “He’s not really been tested yet.

“He’s boxed some decent guys but they’ve either been past their best or they weren’t good enough in the first place.

“I’m a reactive fighter and if he comes flying out then I’ll just box on the back foot, and if he wants to go on the back foot and try to outbox me I’ll take it to him.

“I’m someone who can fight anywhere, I don’t mind fighting at home or away.

“At the end of the day, whether the crowd is booing or cheering, as long as there is some atmosphere there I usually perform well.

“He’s got a good following and doesn’t need to leave his hometown.

“He’s got everything set-up for him – bands playing music, footballers walking him to the ring at his favourite club’s stadium five minutes from his house.

“How much more of an advantage does he want?”

He added: “I’d go into his backyard with a broken arm and a broken leg, it doesn’t bother me.

“The more people I upset in Leeds the better.”

The two have almost identical records – Selby has one loss to go with his 26 wins – and Warrington picked up the British, Commonwealth and European belts after Selby vacated them.

Warrington is set to be led into the ring by former Elland Road skipper Lucas Radebe, with Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs providing the music for the challenger’s grand entrance.

“There’s no extra pressure,” Warrington told The Telegraph. “If I had been able to visualise the perfect scenario for my first world title challenge, I would have pictured it like this.

“With the band and a Leeds United legend leading me out makes it a special occasion in the boxing world.”

He added: “I will thrive off the atmosphere.

“It’s been a long time coming. It’s all about timing in boxing and I’m chomping at the bit to get in there now and show that I’m ready to be a world champion.”