Lee Selby

Last updated

Lee Selby
Lee Selby 2015 (cropped).png
Selby in 2015
Born (1987-02-14) 14 February 1987 (age 37)
Barry Town, Wales
Other names
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm) [1]
Reach69+1⁄2 in (177 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights32
Wins28
Wins by KO9
Losses4
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Welsh National Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Newport Featherweight
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2007 Ystradgynlais Lightweight
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2008 Port Talbot Heavyweight

Lee Selby (born 14 February 1987) is a retired Welsh former professional boxing world champion who competed from 2008 to 2022. He held the IBF featherweight title from 2015 to 2018, and previously the British, Commonwealth, and European featherweight titles between 2011 and 2014. [2]

Contents

Professional career

Early career

Selby began his professional career on 12 July 2008 with a win over Sid Razak (3-8) at the Newport Leisure Centre in Wales. [3] He compiled a record of 4-0 before losing for the first time in his professional career to Samir Mouneimne (1-0-1) by points decision in a four-round contest at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke on 29 May 2009. Selby won his next three fights before beating Dai Davies (6-13-1) for the Welsh Area title on 30 October 2010 claiming the belt with a second-round knockout. On 30 July 2011, he met Scotsman James Ancliff (11-14-2) for the vacant Celtic featherweight title and claimed the belt with a sixth-round stoppage.

British and Commonwealth champion

On 17 September 2011, Selby claimed the British and Commonwealth titles with a win over then champion Stephen Smith via an eighth-round stoppage at the Olympia in Liverpool. Despite being the underdog going into the fight Selby took control of the centre of the ring and caught Smith with a left hand in the 8th round, a punch from which Smith was unable to recover. [4] Selby said after the fight that the win "feels like I've won a world title" adding "It's something that I have been dreaming about since I was a kid. It's a big achievement and not a lot of people have done it". [5]

On 20 April 2013 Selby dismantled the former unbeaten Australian champion Corey McConnell. McConell's corner threw in the towel in the fifth round.

WBC International Championship

Selby vs. Simion

Selby attending a football match in 2013 Selby, Lee.jpg
Selby attending a football match in 2013

On 13 July 2013, Lee Selby took another step towards a world title shot when he faced in Hull the unbeaten Romanian boxer and ranked at fourth by the WBC, Viorel Simion, and won the WBC International featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory. [6] According to some prominent boxing writers, the British rising star passed the toughest test of his career [7] in a very close fight. [7] [8]

IBF featherweight champion

Selby vs. Gradovich

In May 2015, Lee Selby won the IBF featherweight title from Evgeny Gradovich. The fight ended in a unanimous TD after Gradovich was cut from an accidental head clash, and was unable to continue.

Selby vs. Montiel

Selby retained his IBF featherweight title in October 2015 with a win over Mexican Fernando Montiel in Arizona. He dedicated the win to his childhood friend Darren Bray, who had recently died.

Selby vs. Barros

In July 2017, Lee made his next defence of his IBF featherweight crown. Just weeks before the fight, Selby received shocking news of his mother's sudden death in Wales, and his family urged him to pull out of the fight. Selby decided to continue training days later, and dedicate the fight to his mother. [9]

Selby vs Warrington

On 19 May 2018, Selby defended his IBF featherweight title for the fifth time, against unbeaten Josh Warrington. Warrington was the aggressor early in the fight, and managed to rock Selby with a left hook in the second round and a jab to the temple. Selby suffered a bad cut over his left eye in the sixth round, but was allowed to continue the fight. Warrington managed to be busier than Selby and landed cleaner shots through most of the fight. Selby lost the belt to Warrington via split decision, 113–115, 116-112 and 115-113 for Warrington. [10]

Selby vs Douglas

After losing his IBF belt, Selby bounced back with a victory over Omar Douglas. In a bloody fight, Selby managed to outbox Doulgas, to get the unanimous decision victory. [11]

Selby vs Burns

In his next fight, Selby faced former world champion Ricky Burns. In a very close and foul-filled fight, Selby managed to win on two of the scorecards, 116-112 and 116–113, while the third judge had it a draw, 115-115. [12]

Selby vs. Kambosos Jr.

Selby was scheduled to face George Kambosos Jr. in Cardiff on 9 May 2020. but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fight eventually went ahead on 31 October at The SSE Arena in London, where Selby went the distance but lost by split decision. [13]

Selby announced his retirement from boxing on 5 April 2022. [14]

Professional boxing record

32 fights28 wins4 losses
By knockout91
By decision193
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
32Loss28–4 Gustavo Daniel Lemos TKO5 (12), 2:0426 Mar 2022 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
31Loss28–3 George Kambosos Jr. SD12 31 Oct 2020 The SSE Arena, London, England
30Win28–2 Ricky Burns MD12 26 Oct 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England
29Win27–2Omar DouglasUD1223 Feb 2019The O2 Arena, London, England
28Loss26–2 Josh Warrington SD1219 May 2018 Elland Road, Leeds, EnglandLost IBF featherweight title
27Win26–1 Eduardo Ramirez UD129 Dec 2017 Copper Box Arena, London, EnglandRetained IBF featherweight title
26Win25–1 Jonathan Victor Barros UD1215 Jul 2017 The SSE Arena, London, EnglandRetained IBF featherweight title
25Win24–1 Andoni Gago TKO9 (10), 0:41 4 Mar 2017 The O2 Arena, London, England
24Win23–1Eric HunterUD12 9 Apr 2016 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandRetained IBF featherweight title
23Win22–1 Fernando Montiel UD1214 Oct 2015 Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona, USRetained IBF featherweight title
22Win21–1 Evgeny Gradovich TD8 (12), 1:00 30 May 2015 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandWon IBF featherweight title;
Unanimous TD: Gradovich cut from an accidental head clash
21Win20–1 Joel Brunker TKO9 (12), 2:4911 Oct 2014The O2 Arena, London, England
20Win19–1Romulo KoasichaUD1217 May 2014Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, WalesRetained WBC International featherweight title
19Win18–1 Rendall Munroe TKO6 (12), 1:311 Feb 2014 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, WalesRetained British featherweight title;
Won vacant European featherweight title
18Win17–1 Ryan Walsh UD125 Oct 2013 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandRetained British and Commonwealth featherweight titles
17Win16–1 Viorel Simion UD1213 Jul 2013 Craven Park, Hull, EnglandWon WBC International featherweight title
16Win15–1Corey McConnellTKO5 (12), 1:1620 Apr 2013 Winter Gardens, Blackpool, EnglandRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
15Win14–1 Martin Lindsay UD129 Feb 2013 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained British and Commonwealth featherweight titles
14Win13–1Patrick OkineTKO5 (12), 1:5425 May 2012Leisure Centre, Newport, WalesRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
13Win12–1 John Simpson TKO5 (12), 2:0214 Dec 2011 York Hall, London, EnglandRetained British and Commonwealth featherweight titles
12Win11–1 Stephen Smith KO8 (12), 2:0417 Sep 2011Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, EnglandWon British and Commonwealth featherweight titles
11Win10–1James AncliffTKO6 (10), 2:1230 Jul 2011Pillgwenlly Millennium Centre, Newport, WalesWon vacant British Celtic featherweight title
10Win9–1 Youssef Al Hamidi PTS627 Apr 2011 Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England
9Win8–1Dai DaviesKO2 (10), 1:5330 Oct 2010Leisure Centre, Newport, WalesWon vacant Welsh Area featherweight title
8Win7–1Ben JonesPTS625 Jul 2010 Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, England
7Win6–1Jimmy BriggsPTS420 Nov 2009Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales
6Win5–1Ian BaileyPTS610 Aug 2009 Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London, England
5Loss4–1Samir MouneimnePTS429 May 2009Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke-on-Trent, England
4Win4–0 Johnny Greaves PTS613 Mar 2009Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales
3Win3–0Craig JohnsonPTS427 Feb 2009 Metrodome, Barnsley, England
2Win2–0Peter BuckleyPTS624 Oct 2008Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales
1Win1–0Sid RazakPTS612 Jul 2008 Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales

Personal life

Selby is the brother of GB Boxing's 2012 Olympic flyweight representative Andrew Selby.

See also

Related Research Articles

Celestino Caballero is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1998 to 2014. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the unified WBA (Super) and IBF super bantamweight titles between 2006 and 2010, and the WBA (Regular) featherweight title from 2011 to 2012.

Stephen Phelipe "Stevie" Forbes is an American professional boxer. He is a former IBF super featherweight champion. Forbes' nickname of "2Pound" was in recognition of the fact that he was born weighing only 2 pounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Garcia (American boxer)</span> American boxer and boxing trainer

Roberto Garcia Cortez is a Mexican-American former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2001, and held the IBF junior lightweight title from 1998 to 1999. He has since worked as a boxing trainer, and was voted Trainer of the Year by The Ring magazine in 2011, and by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2012. He is the older brother of professional boxer Mikey Garcia, who was a world champion in four weight classes.

Bilal Dib, known as Billy Dib, is an Australian professional boxer. He held the IBF featherweight title from 2011 to 2013, and the IBO super-featherweight title in 2008.

Jonathan Victor Barros is an Argentine professional boxer. He held the WBA (Regular) featherweight title from 2010 to 2011.

Javier Fortuna Francisco is a Dominican professional boxer. He held the WBA interim featherweight title from 2012 to 2013, the WBA (Regular) super featherweight title from 2015 to 2016, and challenged for the IBF lightweight title in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Beltrán</span> Mexican boxer

Raymundo Beltrán is a Mexican professional boxer. He held the WBO lightweight title in 2018.

Andrew Selby is a Welsh professional boxer who held the British flyweight title from 2016 to 2019. As an amateur, he won a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships, Bronze at the 2013 World Championships, and gold at the 2011 and 2013 European Championships, all in the flyweight division. He is the younger brother of former featherweight world champion Lee Selby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Diaz</span> American boxer

Joseph "JoJo" Pedroza Diaz Jr. is a Mexican-American professional boxer who held the IBF super featherweight title from 2020 to February 2021.

Pedro Gibrán Guevara Rocha is a Mexican professional boxer. He is a former WBC light flyweight champion.

Josh Warrington is an English professional boxer. He is a two-time featherweight world champion, having held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title twice between 2018 and 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teofimo Lopez</span> American boxer (born 1997)

Teófimo Andrés López Rivera is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and Ring magazine light welterweight titles since 2023; previously he held the unified World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), WBO, and Ring lightweight titles between 2019 and 2021. Lopez has also held the lineal championship at lightweight and light welterweight.

John Davison is a British former boxer who held the WBC International titles at featherweight and super bantamweight, and the British title at featherweight. He also fought for the European featherweight title and the WBO world featherweight title.

George Kambosos Jr is an Australian professional boxer. He held the unified lightweight championship from 2021 to 2022, as well as the Ring magazine title during that time.

Xu Can is a Chinese professional boxer who held the World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight title from 2019 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin Haney</span> American boxer (born 1998)

Devin Miles Haney is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed championship at lightweight from 2022 to 2023, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title from 2023 to 2024.

Anthony Cacace is a professional boxer from Northern Ireland. He has held the International Boxing Organization (IBO) super-featherweight title since 2022 and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-featherweight title since May 2024.

Sarah Mahfoud is a Faroese-born Danish professional boxer who won the IBF female featherweight title in July 2020. She subsequently lost to Amanda Serrano in a title unification bout in Manchester on 24 September 2022. As of April 2024, she is ranked as the world's second best active female featherweight by BoxRec and The Ring.

Boxing in the 2020s is a list of notable fights and events in boxing during the decade from the year 2020 to 2029.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kell Brook vs. Frankie Gavin</span> Boxing match

Kell Brook vs. Frankie Gavin, billed as Rule Britannia, was a professional boxing match contested on 30 May 2015, for the IBF Welterweight championship.

References

  1. 1 2 BT Sport tale of the tape prior to the Josh Warrington fight.
  2. ↑ "BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "Lee Selby stops Stephen Smith to claim titles". BBC Sport . BBC. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  5. ↑ Barry and District News | Barry boxer Lee selby is new British and Commonwealth champion
  6. ↑ "Lee Selby won the WBC International featherweight title in Hull". Sky Sports. 13 July 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Lee Selby – Rising Star passes Toughest Test". boxingnews24.com/. 14 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Selby decisions Simion, but struggles". boxingnews24.com/. 13 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "'Lee Selby faces "harsh truth" of mother's death after title defence". BBC Sport. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Josh Warrington stuns Lee Selby via split decision, becomes first world champion from Leeds". WBN - World Boxing News. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  11. ↑ "Selby vs Douglas - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  12. ↑ "Lee Selby Edges Ricky Burns By Majority Decision in Close Fight". BoxingScene.com. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Kambosos' big win snares world title shot". 31 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Lee Selby: Former world champion retires". BBC Sport . 5 April 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Robbie Turley 		British Welsh Area
featherweight champion
30 October 2010 – July 2011
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Dai Davies
New title British Celtic
featherweight champion
30 July 2011 – 17 September 2011
Won British title		Vacant
Title next held by
Kris Hughes
Preceded by British featherweight champion
17 September 2011 – May 2014
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Josh Warrington
Commonwealth
featherweight champion
17 September 2011 – November 2013
Vacated
Vacant
Title last held by
Alex Miskirtchian 		European featherweight champion
1 February 2014 – May 2014
Vacated
Preceded by WBC International
featherweight champion
17 September 2011 – October 2014
Vacated
World boxing titles
Preceded by IBF featherweight champion
30 May 2015 – 19 May 2018		Succeeded by
Josh Warrington
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.