Selby Sets His Sights On Silencing Hunter

Lee Selby insists he will not fall prey to Eric Hunter when he defends his IBF world featherweight title on Saturday night.

The Barry fighter is in relaxed mood, despite the American challenger’s taunts that Selby (22-1-KO8), lacks heart and self-belief.

Those claims have been met with disdain by Selby who insists he will be unaffected even if Hunter (21-3-KO11) tries to repeat his insults at the weigh-in ahead of their fight at London’s O2 Arena.

Selby said: “I’ve never had the trash talking and at weigh-ins I’ve never had anyone in my face, but it won’t affect me at all. It doesn’t change my mindset one bit.

“I think his disqualification losses are a bit controversial. He hit the guy on the break and they said it was after the bell and the other was low blows. It’s no coincidence he got disqualified twice.

“I have been disqualified myself once. It was against one of Tony Borg’s boys and it was for holding. It was a dodgy referee and I think he was in Tony’s pocket!”

With a packed house at The O2 and the chance of booking a fight with fellow world champions Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz looking, the 29-year-old ‘Welsh Mayweather’ is full of enthusiasm.

He added: “I get to fight in front of my British fans at home again. It’s the best atmosphere in boxing. It’s a dream to go out to America to defend a world title but it’s a dream to defend it on home soil in front of 20,000.

“Hunter is s a good fighter and it’s a tough fight but I’m always in the gym, always ready and always prepared.

“If he wants to stand and fight, we can fight. If he wants to box, we’ll box. However, he wants it. I don’t mind. If you see me sparring every day in the gym, I just want to have a tear-up.

“There have been some great fighters calling me out. Carl Frampton was talking about me after his last fight, Josh Warrington has called me out a lot of times and Leo Santa Cruz has mentioned me too. There are plenty of options but I’ve got to come through this one.

“Warrington will never get to my level. He’s done everything asked of him and won all the titles I vacated and it’s a fight that could be made straight away if he comes through his next fight and I come through mine. I’m going to be working for Sky in the studio for his next fight.”