Warburton 'knocking on door' for world title shot

Welsh middleweight Gerome Warburton says it is "madness" to think he could be on the brink of a world title shot.

Warburton stunned former British champion Nathan Heaney with an unanimous win to secure the WBA Continental Middleweight title in March.

The 30-year-old from Colwyn Bay says the victory at Manchester's Co-Op Live Arena still feels "surreal".

"When I first set out as a professional boxer, I only had my eyes on maybe a British title even when I won the Welsh," Warburton told BBC Sport Wales.

"But I'm ranked 11th now with WBA in the world, so it's madness really to think that I could be knocking on the door for a world title."

The bout against Stoke-on-Trent's Heaney had originally been scheduled for January, but was postponed because of an injury to headliner Moses Itauma before his heavweight contest against Jermaine Franklin.

Heaney was backed by more than 2,000 supporters in the 15,000 crowd in Manchester and had promised a "bear pit atmosphere".

"I knew it was going to be tough," Warburton said.

"I knew it was going to be very hostile - Heaney sold a lot of tickets and I was the away fighter as well, so nothing was on my side.

"But from the time that I was in the hotel, the weigh-in, the press conference, I was just switched on from the beginning.

"I knew that it was a fight that I couldn't lose."

Warburton dedicated the win to his son Roman, who proudly held aloft the WBA Continental belt following the fight.

"It must be amazing for him to see his dad do so well," Warburton said.

"Obviously being in front of over 15,000 people in a big massive arena, he's living a fairytale story - we see movies and stuff like that.

"I want to make him so proud as well."

Bodelwyddan-born Warburton made his professional debut in 2019 and three years later won the Welsh middleweight title with victory over Morgan Jones.

Warburton was beaten by Kieron Conway for the vacant British middleweight title in May 2025, one of two losses he has suffered n 21 professional bouts.

"I've always been a down-to-earth person and I think I'm there now to show the kids that you can do something if you put all the hard work in," Warburton added.

"I wasn't the most talented of boxers from a young age, but I put the hard work in and I think that's what it's about now.

"It's about getting more wins and leaving a belt and showing the younger generation that it can be done, not just boxing, but any sport or anything that they do.

"Hard work and dedication will get you a long way."

Warburton will wait to see what offers come his way following his win.

"I'm just going to wait and see what happens, see what opportunities I get with the management and just sit down with my management and see what we think is best," Warburton said.

"Sometimes you can jump into the wrong fight at the wrong time. You've just got to take each step as it comes and make the right decisions.

"I don't really want to be calling anyone out just yet."

And what of the nickname?

"My old boxing coach came up with The Breadmaker," Warburton smiles.

"Some people think it's a bit cocky and flashy, but that's the thing.

"I think I was destined for boxing because the surname, the nickname.

"There's very much more to come from The Breadmaker."