Selby decisions Simion, but struggles and looks poor

selby544By Scott Gilfoid: Lee Selby (16-1, 6 KO’s) came down to earth tonight in winning a closer than expected 12 round unanimous decision over WBC International featherweight champion Viorel Simion (16-1, 7 KO’s) on the undercard of the Kell Brook vs. Carson Jones fight at the Craven Park Stadium, Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The final judges had the fight scored 118-110, 115-113 and 116-112. I agreed with the 115-113 score. It was a very, very close fight.

Selby really fell apart in the last four rounds of the fight, and looked like he was hurt in the 11th and not competitive in the 12th. Simion, 31, had a better engine and he really wore Selby down with his relentless pressure.

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Ones to Watch

frampton55By Mohummad Humza Elahi: – UK Edition Twitter @MHE_1985 Although a lot of column inches are devoted to the current cream of the crop in the boxing world, those who want to keep an eye on future contenders (and are more unfamiliar to wider audiences outside the UK) may want to look at highlight reels of the following fighters, who I believe could be competing on a world level in the next two years or more.

Lee Selby (14-1, 6KO’s) Selby has already shown he has the makings of a marketable star. The only one of the five with a blemish on his record, I believe this has only spurred Selby on to prove his doubters wrong. The Welshman has trained at the Mayweather Boxing Gym and some of the swagger (and pad routines) has rubbed off.

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Lee Selby the latest Matchroom Sport addition

selby45By Scott Gilfoid: British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Lee Selby (14-1, 5 KO’s) is the latest addition to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport stable. The announcement is expected to be made tomorrow by Hearn, and following that Selby will be fighting on April 20th on the Brian Rose vs. Joachim Alcine card against an opponent still to be determined at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom.

Hearn’s Matchroom stable has really expanded lately with the addition of George Groves and Ricky Burns. Selby isn’t in their class, and this is definitely a much, much smaller deal than Hearn’s recent acquisitions. However, Selby a decent fighter and he may possibly snatch the European featherweight title next with a little luck. However, that’s kind of the end of the line for Selby.

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Selby needs to step it up to the European level

selby45By Scott Gilfoid: In watching British featherweight champion Lee Selby 14-1, 5 KO’s) easily beat Martin Lindsay last Saturday night by a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision in Belfast, Northern Ireland, it’s pretty clear that the 26-year-old Selby is just wasting his time defending the British featherweight strap when he’s capable of a lot more.

I’m not saying Selby has the talent to hang with the world class champions like Daniel Ponce De Leon or Mikey Garcia, because clearly he doesn’t have the power to ever beat guys like that. But Selby is good enough to compete against the top European fighters right now and I think he might be good enough to beat the current EBU featherweight champion Alexander Miskirtchian (22-2-1, 8 KO’s).

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McCloskey-Perez, Frampton-Molitor & Selby-Lindsay on September 22nd

Image: McCloskey-Perez, Frampton-Molitor & Selby-Lindsay on September 22ndBy Scott Gilfoid: Paul McCloskey (23-2, 12 KO’s) will be fighting this month against light welterweight contender Manuel Perez (18-7-1, 4 KO’s) along with Commonwealth/IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton (14-0, 9 KO’s) vs. former IBF super bantamweight champion Steve Molitor (34-2, 12 KO’s) at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

I honestly don’t see either Frampton and especially McCloskey winning these fights. I can see them winning controversial decisions, but as far as actually winning the fights without controversy, nope, I can’t see that happening. Molitor, 32, is too big of a step up for the short and limited Frampton. Molitor knows how to fight and Frampton is going to be in shock at how much better he is compared to the fodder that’s been thrown in with him his entire career. That’s not a little jump up in competition that’s a rocket to the moon in terms of quality compared to the 3rd tier guys that Frampton has been fighting. I think Molitor is going to box Frampton’s head off in this fight.

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