By Scott Gilfoid: After winning the IBF featherweight title last Saturday in beating champion Evgeny Gradovich (19-1-1, 9 KOs) by an 8 round technical decision, Britain’s Lee Selby (21-1, 8 KOs) says he’s going to focus on defending the IBF title for the next year or two before he starts looking to fight the other featherweight champions in unification fights.
Selby beat Gradovich by the scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73. This came after Gradovich had been cut over his right eye from a head clash. He’d also been cut over his left eye.
Selby had previously talked about wanting to fight the likes of Nicholas Walters and Vasyl Lomachenko in unification fights, but it looks like Selby is going to take his time now before he gets to that point. I can’t say I blame him because Walters and Lomachenko would likely be far too good for Selby and I can’t see him beating either of those two talents.
Indeed, I think Selby would be knocked out by them. You can add WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. to that list as well. He would be just too quick for the likes of Selby to deal with, and I think it would be a fight that would go really badly for Selby.
“But I think I can be IBF champion for a long time and maybe have a unification in a year or two,” Selby said to Skysports.com. “Luckily enough I am blessed to have these fighters in the featherweight division. It’s one of the best divisions in boxing at the moment, so there are some great fights down the line.”
As much as Selby wants to hold onto the IBF title for a “long time,” I don’t think there’s any chance of him holding onto the belt for long unless the top two contenders for the title, Abner Mares and Jayson Velez, opt not to go after Selby’s IBF title. I think Selby is a fine little fighter, but I don’t think he can beat talents like Mares and Velez.
Mares is a fighter that can do it all. He can punch, counter, throw with power, and move. He also has great defensive skills that are second to none. The only guy that’s given Mares problems thus far is the big punching Jhonny Gonzalez. Other than that fight, Mares has dominated his opponents. Like I said, Selby might be okay if Mares or Velez don’t go after his IBF title, but if they do, he’s going to be in trouble and likely will be beaten straightway. The only chance I see Selby having of getting through a year or two with the IBF title still in his possession is if Mares and Velez choose not to fight him.
As far as Selby fighting unification bouts against Russell Jr, Lomachenko or Nicholas, I don’t see that as a smart option for him. Those guys are simply too talented.
“I want to get two voluntary defenses, and after that a mandatory, and then I want to get some of the big fighters in the future,” Selby said to IFL TV.
It’s a nice dream that Selby has, but I think it’s more of a pipe dream than reality.
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