IBF world featherweight champion Lee Selby is eyeing a fight with Leo Santa Cruz as he prepares to make his American debut.
The Welshman recently signed with influential advisor Al Haymon after wrenching the IBF strap from Evgeny Gradovich in May.
He faces former three-weight world champion Fernando Montiel tomorrow night [October 14] at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona and hopes to set up a clash with former two-weight world champion Santa Cruz, another Haymon fighter.
“Hopefully I can win and look good. I’d like a big fight with a champion like Leo Santa Cruz,” he said.
“I’ve seen him mention my name and I’d like that fight.
“I’m really excited. This is my first world title defence and it’s against a tough challenge that most guys wouldn’t take. It’s not an easy win, especially with me having to come overseas.
“I’ve chosen a formidable foe and if I beat a guy like him and look good, it should raise my profile overnight.”
Mexico’s Montiel, who has won world honours at flyweight, super-fly and bantamweight, feels Selby has made a mistake in electing to fight him.
“I honestly believe that [Selby] chose the wrong guy to fight,” he stated.
“I’ve had great preparation for this fight. All the work has been put in. He just chose the wrong guy to make his US debut against.
“I was very happy when I heard that we were going to fight in Arizona. There are lots of Mexicans here, so I know I’ll have a lot of people behind me on Wednesday. It’s going to be great to fight here.”
