Lee Selby Talks Gradovich, Donaire-Walters, Lomachenko

By Anson Wainwright

A week removed from becoming the IBF featherweight number one contender and Lee Selby is itching to get into the ring.

“(I’ve) sat at home bored. (I’m) dying to get to the gym.” Selby told BoxingScene.com with a chuckle on Friday afternoon.

Last weekend the 27-year old Welshman emphatically beat Joel Brunker to become the mandatory challenger to Evgeny Gradovich.

Selby (20-1, 8 knockouts) would use his considerable skills and ring craft to pick apart the Australian, before adding an exclamation point by getting a ninth round stoppage.

“I’m happy with it, it went to plan,” Selby said of the fight. “I outboxed him comfortably, I broke him down round by round and finally got the stoppage.

“In round eight I started to sit down on the shots a bit and the stoppage sent a bit of a message out.

“He was a good, tough fighter, he’d never been beaten or dropped.”

Selby had previously sparred with Brunker at The Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, the experience served him well.

“I knew he’d keep coming and plant his feet and want a toe to toe fight," explained Selby. "I knew if I kept moving on the back foot he’d get frustrated and desperate and that’s what he was doing.”

Selby will have a keen eye on Gradovich's next fight against Jayson Velez scheduled to take place on the undercard of Terence Crawford’s WBO lightweight title fight against Ray Beltran on November 29.

He expects the Russian to win the fight.

“I think it’s a good fight,” commented Selby. “Gradovich should win, I think he’s fought at a higher class, better experience and I think he should win on points.”

He hopes Gradovich is able to win: “He’s an established champion,” Selby explained. “He’s defended his title a few times and I’ll get more credit when I beat him.”

The former British, Commonwealth and European champion would like his world title opportunity to come on home soil, following Wales rich tradition in the 9 stone division but if he has to pack his bags and travel he’s more than willing.

“It would be nice to be at home but I don’t mind travelling.” he said.

For now he’ll keep his eye on the up coming 126-pound title fights, notably this weekend’s Nonito Donaire-Nicholas Walters WBA clash and Vasyl Lomachenko-Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo who meet for the WBO crown next month.

"Donaire will probably win on points,"he said. "But if it goes short Walters by knockout.

“I expect Lomachenko to win [his defense], he’s an exceptional talent, with his boxing skills.”

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