LEE SELBY is gearing up for an eliminator for the IBF featherweight title against Joel Brunker on October 11 at the O2 in London.
Selby already knows his next opponent well. โWe sparred together over in America at Mayweatherโs gym. We sparred over about three days. We must have done about 18 rounds together,โ Lee told Boxing News. โHeโs good, heโs tough, game, super-fit, high workrate so itโll make for a good fight.โ
Russia’s Evgeny Gradovich, the IBF champion, therefore is firmly in Selbyโs sights. โHeโs a similar style to Brunker. I think Brunker is a better fighter to be honest. [Gradovich] doesnโt look exceptional but he does everything well. I think his style will suit me again,โ the Welshman said. โJoel Brunkerโs a perfect fight if I do get the fight with Gradovich. Theyโre similar styles, perfect preparation.
โI donโt mind traveling, Iโd love to fight [Gradovich] out in America. Heโs been fighting in big shows in Macau for his last two fights, so out there would be good.โ
Selby is building slowly towards his goal. โIโve done it the right way, gradual steps up. I think when I get to fight for the title Iโll be able to win and Iโll be able to defend it a few times. Some people get there too early and they get beat, some people get and theyโre not good enough to keep hold of it. I think my careerโs gone perfect, so when I win the title, Iโm good enough to defend it,โ Lee insisted.