Steve Wood, head of VIP Promotions and manager of WBC International featherweight champion Josh Warrington, has responded to recent claims made by boxer Lee Selby.

Selby, the IBF World featherweight champion, and his team issued a press release this week claiming Warrington was ‘running scared’ and had pulled out of a scheduled summer showdown. Wood, however, has refuted those accusations and insists the Welsh fighter has resorted to desperate measures to try to land himself a payday. “To be honest, we’re all a bit embarrassed by the actions of Lee and his team in putting out that press release. On the contrary, Josh Warrington would like to assure Lee that he isn’t unwanted; as it appears he is by the American promoter [Al Haymon] he ran to after leaving Matchroom.