SELBY DREAMS OF NEWPORT

LEE SELBY dreams of fighting in three cities on his way to becoming a two-weight world champion: Las Vegas, New York and NEWPORT.

The Welshman – a former IBF world featherweight champion – makes his lightweight bow on February 23 when he takes on Omar Douglas at London’s O2 Arena. Selby, 31, said: “I’d have loved to have fought in Vegas. “I was supposed to fight Jonathan Victor Barros at the MGM Grand – and that’s the biggest stage in boxing – but the fight was pulled on the day of the weigh-in.

“Vegas or New York – there are plenty of opportunities to fight there at this level now.

“But, as silly as it sounds, one of my other favourite places I’d love to fight is where I made my pro debut – the leisure centre in Newport. I really enjoyed that and it’d bring back a lot of memories.”

Selby (right) is stepping up two divisions after losing his title to Josh Warrington in May.

He added: “I’m feeling good, feeling a lot fresher, a lot stronger. It’s still a struggle to get to lightweight but not as much as the featherweight limit.

“Douglas is a good boxer, a very, very good puncher, good left hook, and it’s going to be difficult.

“But I didn’t want to come back and take an easy fight, I wanted a credible opponent to get moved up in the rankings quickly.”

There are several good domestic fights for Selby, including Luke Campbell, Anthony Crolla and Ricky Burns, but ultimately he has his sights on champions Mikey Garcia and Vasyl Lomachenko.

He said: “At my best, my boxing ability is second to none.

“I have some days where I feel brilliant and if I can bring that to the ring at a more natural weight then I will be very difficult to beat.” NO WAY BACK: Cook