Selby is setting his sights on a Welsh one-two
LEE SELBY reckons he could be the first two-weight world champion from Wales by the end of 2020.
The Barry banger takes on Ricky Burns in London a week on Saturday and a victory over the Scot would put him in place for a final eliminator for the IBF lightweight crown.
That belt is held by Richard Commey (below) and, while Vasyl Lomachenko lords it over the rest of the division with the WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring titles, Selby sees a way the whole division could be blown wide open in the next 14 months.
It is a tantalising prospect for the 32-year-old former IBF featherweight champion.
He said: “With the IBF, I’m the secondhighest rank, so, as long as I come through the Burns fight, they will order a final eliminator next.
“I’d fancy my chances against Commey, but, by the time I’ve boxed Burns and boxed a final eliminator and come through both, he might not be champion.
“He’s fighting Teofimo Lopez and the winner is rumoured to be fighting Lomachenko.
“And if Lomachenko won that fight, then he could vacate – because he’d have all the belt – so it could be open.
“We’ll have to see how the next few months pan out, but winning another world title would about be it for me.
“A two-weight world champion, I’d be the first Welshman in the history books to do that and that would be the best way to be remembered. It’s really exciting to think it could be wide open — but, first, it’s Ricky Burns at the end of the month.”
Selby has plenty of respect for 36-year-old Burns, but he is convinced he has his number.
He added: “He is the only Scottish fighter to be a three-weight world champion, so what he has done is outstanding.
“And it’s two Celts going at it.
“I don’t think I’m past my prime yet, I’m 32, I look after myself and live a clean life.
“Ricky Burns lives a clean life, too. He works hard, he’s a little bit older and it’s going to be a tough fight.
“But my boxing ability and speed will beat him.”
The clash at London’s O2 Arena, on the Regis Prograis-Josh Taylor undercard, is Selby’s second outing at lightweight following his fight against Omar Douglas in February.
He stepped up two divisions after Josh Warrington beat him in May 2018 to relieve him of his featherweight title.
Selby said: “I didn’t really get to show the best of myself in the Douglas fight because I got cut in the second round and then I got cut again.
“So I had a cut over both eyes and it ruined the fight for me.
“I didn’t get to show the best of myself and this time I’m hoping to rectify that.
“There’s less pressure now I’m not making featherweight.
“I’d have struggled to answer the phone and I definitely wouldn’t have had the energy to talk.”