Josh Warrington is ‘crazy’ to defend his IBF Featherweight title against Carl Frampton in Manchester this December.

That’s the view of former IBF Flyweight world champion Dave Boy McAuley, who believes that when the pair meet at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd, Frampton will have far too much for the unbeaten champion.

“He is crazy fighting Carl Frampton,” said McAuley, as per Newsletter.co.uk. “If I was Warrington I would be telling Frank Warren that this is a voluntary defence and what am I doing fighting Carl Frampton?”

“I would refuse point blank to fight him if I was Warrington.”

Frampton is a solid favourite to take Warrington’s scalp and regain a version of the featherweight crown, with the man from Tiger’s Bay currently prices at ⅓ across bookmaker sign up offers to win the bout and evens to win the fight by decision.

Warrington does have size on his side, with Frampton having originally campaigned at super bantamweight, owing to the fact that bookies have the challenger at longer odds of 11/4 to win the fight inside the distance.

With only six of Warrington’s 27 victories coming by knockout or stoppage, you can get odds of 8/1 on the champion to win without requiring judges. Warrington is 2/1 to win the fight by any means.

“Warrington is not a big puncher and the only way to beat Carl Frampton is to be able to hurt him and I don’t think he has the power to do that,”

McAuley continued. “If you don’t have the power to do that, you are in trouble. Frampton is a better boxer, better tactician and he is more powerful. I just see Carl winning another world title on December 22.”

Warrington won his world title back in May with a split-decision victory over Welshman Lee Selby at his beloved Elland Road, but taking on ‘The Jackal’ represents a step up in class for the Leeds native. Frampton is a former two-weight world champion, having won titles in the 122lb and 126lb weight classes and has beaten a much higher level of opposition than Warrington has previously faced.

Frampton has beaten former world champions Scott Quigg and Nonito Donaire and also holds a victory over the only man he has lost to in a professional ring, three-weight world champion and current WBA featherweight king Leo Santa Cruz.

The only common opponent that Frampton and Warrington share, Kiko Martinez, extended Warrington the distance losing a disputed majority decision over twelve rounds, while Frampton has convincingly beaten Martinez twice, including a ninth round stoppage win.

As both the odds and McAuley’s opinion would suggest, Warrington has it all stacked against him come December.