Lee Selby hunting down IBF champ Evgeny Gradovich

Lee Selby

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. โ€œWe sparred together over in America at Mayweatherโ€™s gym. We sparred over about three days. We must have done about 18 rounds together,โ€ Lee told Boxing News. โ€œHeโ€™s good, heโ€™s tough, game, super-fit, high workrate so itโ€™ll make for a good fight.โ€

Russia’s Evgeny Gradovich, the IBF champion, therefore is firmly in Selbyโ€™s sights. โ€œHeโ€™s a similar style to Brunker. I think Brunker is a better fighter to be honest. [Gradovich] doesnโ€™t look exceptional but he does everything well. I think his style will suit me again,โ€ the Welshman said. โ€œJoel Brunkerโ€™s a perfect fight if I do get the fight with Gradovich. Theyโ€™re similar styles, perfect preparation.

โ€œI donโ€™t mind traveling, Iโ€™d love to fight [Gradovich] out in America. Heโ€™s 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. โ€œIโ€™ve done it the right way, gradual steps up. I think when I get to fight for the title Iโ€™ll be able to win and Iโ€™ll be able to defend it a few times. Some people get there too early and they get beat, some people get and theyโ€™re not good enough to keep hold of it. I think my careerโ€™s gone perfect, so when I win the title, Iโ€™m good enough to defend it,โ€ Lee insisted.

Don’t miss this week’s issue of Boxing News, out on Tuesday on iTunes, Google Play and via www.pocketmags.com

Share Page