LEE SELBY, the “Welsh Mayweather”, is looking forward to returning to the O2 on Saturday. He’s putting his IBF featherweight title on the line against American challenger Eric Hunter. The London venue brings back happy memories. “I won the Lonsdale belt outright there, I won an eliminator for a world title there and I won the title there,” Selby says. “It’s massive, as soon as you hear the crowd roaring, your ring tune come on, it gives me a feeling like no other. I can’t describe it.”
He has a high opinion of Hunter. “I think he’s a good fighter. I’ve seen enough of him, he’s awkward, a switch-hitter, can punch a bit. From Philadelphia, boxes out of the Philly shell. He’s a good fighter,” Lee said. “It’s going to be hard, like every fight at this level. He’s the mandatory challenger… I’ve been watching Rocky so I’ve got plenty of respect [for Philadelphia fighters].”
He details how he’s prepared for Hunter’s switch-hitting. “I’ve been up to the Ingles gym, they’re renowned for their switch-hitting. I’ve been sparring my younger brother [Andrew], no one switch-hits better than him. We’re training together like when we were kids,” Lee said of Andrew. “I can’t teach him anything about boxing, he’s a genius. I don’t think anybody can teach him anything. All I can try to engrain into him is the work ethic.”
Selby wants to be active this year and victory could tee him up for a unification fight with the winner of Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz. “There’s a lot of big names at the weight division, they can be made,” Lee reflects. But he needs to win on Saturday.
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