Have you been training with your brother (world champion Lee Selby) for the Maximino Flores fight?
I’m always learning from him, sparring and stuff, he puts pressure on me because he’s a bigger person. The guy I’m fighting, he’s bit taller, he’s a pressure fighter, so it’s been perfect.
I’ve been sparring Khalid Yafai as well. He comes forward, he’s strong… It’s perfect for me and him, both working sparring for our next opponents.
Once upon a time you and Kal were bitter rivals, fighting at York Hall in an Olympic box-off.
That’s it. We were the same weight, it was shame we had to meet. But it’s boxing. It’s a business. We’re good friends now, helping each other out for our fights. We’re both different weights now. I’m trying to get a world title at flyweight and he is the world champion at super-flyweight.
How impressed were you to see him become a world champion?
I knew he’d do it. I was really happy for him. It just goes to show. I could do that as well. So it would be nice to get a world title as well myself.
How far off do you think you are?
If all goes well and we win on Saturday, hopefully we have another fight in December and then after the new year and then after that go for that world title shot.
Are there any particular champions you’re targeting?
If I win this [against Flores] I’ll be ranked number one in the WBC. I’m number three now. He’s the toughest champion [Daigo Higa], he’s won all his fights by KO. But in my eyes the weakest is the WBO champion [Sho Kimura]. Be nice to go that route, the guy who just beat Zou Shiming and hopefully unify if I win, unify for the WBC or IBF or something.
Two world champions in the same family.
Be wicked, wouldn’t it? Then we’d both be on a big bill in Cardiff, Millennium stadium like Anthony Joshua. That would be nice.
