Josh Warrington fight diary: This is when I become a real weirdo
Its been a long old week. Theres been a lot of training. Its good for me for fight night, but it dont leave too many marbles upstairs for stuff that hasnt got to do with training.
My camp is a variety of what youd expect from a modern camp. It changes day to day. Were sparring on Saturday, and I might have Sunday off, but we take everyday as it comes. Because of what can go on and because certain sessions might take it out of you, Im careful not to overcook.
I always get my level of fitness to the highest standard, and once Ive reached that its about maintaining it. Then we go onto the technical side and really sharpening up the game plans. The first stage of camp is mostly fitness based and putting the body through it. The second stage is a mixture of that, and technique. This stage, the third stage, is more or less sparring and technical based, while keeping an eye on the fitness.
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Obviously I dont want to give away too much before the fight, but when we start camp we always adjust a few things because of the opponent. Every week is a hard week, theres no harder or easier week. Sharpening up the tools is the most important thing this week. Weve got to get everything right and build on what weve done in the last few weeks. I want to get it right in sparring and get that little bit of sharpness.
Team Warrington
Gym: Dickys Gym, Batley
Coach: Sean OHagan
Nutritionist: Natasha Warrington
Strength & conditioning: Mark Hurley
My dad is my coach. Hes always a pain in the ass. Whether were in the gym or at home, hes my dad, you know? Weve got to a stage where we know how to put dad and son to one side and focus on training. Sometimes hell let me know its nothing personal. I dont have to hear that, to be honest, but hes always reassuring me. I go down to his on a Sunday with the kids and have a family day. We switch off more or less then, but most of the time, especially at this stage in camp, boxing is 24/7. Ive been at Dickys Gym in Batley six years now. Its filthy, but we like it. We use another gym down in Doncaster for sparring as well.
Its a real family camp with me, my missus is my nutritionist. She makes all my meals and tracks my weight. She calls me a fatty and tells me what I can and cant eat. She comes from a chef background. Normally boxers struggle with their diet because theyre eating bland, minimalist meals all weighed out, whereas I have my diet suited to my training schedule and she can really spice it up. I dont even feel Im in camp when Im eating because I eat so good.
A lot of my work with my strength and conditioning coach Mark Hurley is mental work. A lot of concentration, as well as strength and fitness. We do a lot of recovery stuff, stretching is important.
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Camp is never straight forward. The documentary, Fighting For A City, has kept me busy, and I guess it comes with the territory. Ive got to ride the wave. When I go to ASDA, Ive got to put disguises on. Glasses and fake nose, the whole lot. Otherwise Id never get out of there with my loaf of bread. I dont feel like a celebrity. Its the same old me, but people recognise me more. Its nice to have the support.
Warrington's schedule Dec 3-8
Monday
Run
Technical session
Tuesday
Evening: 12-round sparring
Wednesday
Recovery session [light warm-ups, stretching & rotation]
Technique session
Thursday
Strength and conditioning
Circuit training
Friday
Interval training
Technique session
Saturday
Sparring
Weeks Main Focus
This week was all about going through the game plans. You get to a stage where you cant get any fitter and you dont want to push it too much, because you want to peak on the night.
We train on Saturdays. Im not every fighter, bit of a weirdo to be honest. End of day, we normally fight on the weekends, so I like to get my body used to fighting then. I need it hot, not ready to wind down at the end of the week. Its a mental trigger more than anything.
A post shared by Josh Leeds Warrior Warrington (@j_warrington) on
goes into overtime, thinking out the fight, playing out the scenarios, seeing the arm raised… I feel like I have 10 brains never mind the one, (which is hardly there when not in camp)
it brings me to life does the fight game. I feel so alive, all the work is put in and striving for one thing, winning. Once the physical is there, the mental has to be there to get the bring out the best and for the physical to reach its max performance. Without the mind, the body can only go so far … • #Andstill #warringtonframpton #Decemeber22nd #Manchesterarena #ibf #worldtitle #mindset #mental #winning #visualise #focused #leedswarrior #motIm getting to that stage where Im a bit of a weirdo. The fight is constantly playing in my mind. I go through it when I go to bed and when I wake up. Im excited now, I cant wait to go. Its going to be a hell of week, right in the festive season. Im already eyeing up the mince pies and what I can eat after, but in all serious, my full concentrations on the fight.
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I visualise a lot, I do a lot of mental work. I play out everything in my head – being knocked down, being behind, knocking him out early, outclassing him – anything can happen in the fight game. Its 36 minutes and theres a lot that can change from minute to minute. Its never plain sailing in life, even if youre going shopping looking for some milk. Ive got to play out different scenarios.
The next time I see Carl Frampton is fight week. Ive no hatred towards him, hes just standing in the way of where I want to go. I dont know if hes trying to play a mental game with me, talking about my record and the like. He contradicts himself a lot. He says he always shows respect, but then he rises to the bait. Im not sure if he even knows what hes saying sometimes.
Hes trying to get under my skin, but it wont work. He can talk about my record, my punch power, my opponents, but end of the day, its me and him fighting, not whoever weve boxed in the past.
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