The IBF featherweight world champion, Lee Selby came face to face with his longtime rival, Josh Warrington. The bad blood was palpable at Elland Road for the opening press conference for the May 19th clash.
During the intense press conference, ‘The Welsh Mayweather’ was repeatedly heckled by a hometown Leeds crowd.
It was a crowd that was determined to put on a strong show of support for their man, Josh Warrington.
Selby became agitated and engaged in back and forths with many of the onlookers.
The featherweight champ caught up with Boxing Social, following the press conference and the Welsh champion dissected and broke down his upcoming clash.
Touching on the rowdy press conference, Selby began by explaining “It is what it is, it was to be expected. I’m coming into this city you know; I was expecting to get booed like I did and I got a couple of sheep noises (laughs).”
Then Barry native discussed the long-running rivalry between himself and his West-Yorkshire rival.
“He has been calling me out after his fights for three or four years; now finally the fight is on and we can get down to business and see who the better man is.”
The defending champion has taken the old school move of being a travelling champion. He will attempt to defeat his rival in his hometown.
On the topic of some potential home-cooking and biased decision making, Selby did not seem fazed and shared he plans on winning emphatically.
“If the fight is close, you know in the past we’ve seen judges sway towards the home fighter. But I’m going to try my best to make it a clear decision.”
“Either I’m going to outbox him to a wide unanimous points decision or hopefully get the stoppage.”
Analysing the problems, the undefeated Leeds fighter will pose when they get in the ring on May 19th. Selby said “He throws a lot of shots.”
“I don’t know how he is going to come out though, whether he is going to come out raring with his crowd behind him.
“If he does, he will just fall into my hands. I will just pick him off on the backfoot.”
“Or if the opposite he boxes on the back foot, I will take it to him. But he does have a good work rate and a good jab.
“It will be a great fight.”
Selby has previously touched on Warrington earning a shot on his title.
But he broke down his opponents resume and it was clear he is not impressed by his body of work.
“To be honest a lot of his better wins are against guys who I have beaten. When I’ve beat them, I’ve kind of ruined them.”
“Like Martin Lindsay, a great fighter at the time. I kind of beat him up and outclassed him. He had a year out then and come out of retirement to face Josh Warrington.”
“He also boxed Joel Bronker, I did the same thing with him. I speak to Joel a lot on social media, he said he was ill on the night (against Warrington).
“He said there is a different class between me and him.”
“A lot of his better wins come against former opponents of mine.”
“Same with Rendall Munroe, he was done before I beat him then Josh Warrington went in and beat him too.”
May 19 we go to work. 🥊#TeamSelbypic.twitter.com/ZOG05tBPL4
— lee selby (@leeselby126) January 31, 2018
Carl Frampton has been the intended target for Selby as an ideal opponent for some time now.’The Jackal’ is set to lock horns with the 4-weight world champion, Nonito Donaire.
Giving his opinion on how that fight goes, Selby added “They say the last thing to go is the power, Donaire is slightly past his best but he is by no means a washed up fighter.”
“The threat is always there through twelve rounds. But I believe Frampton will land a big shot of his own;” Selby concluded.
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