As is often the case; something’s got to give. Lee Selby, the 30-year-old Welsh IBF World Featherweight champion has defended his belt three times. On Saturday, as part of the Degale v Truax undercard, he looks to make it a fourth defence. His Mexican opponent Eduardo Ramirez, has never been beaten. If Selby is successful, he will have been made work for it.
London’s Copper Box Arena may have a dull looking appearance from the outside, but the atmosphere will be intense and vociferous this weekend. And Selby is likely to have a strong travelling contingent of support to add to the cacophony of noise. A support he may well have to draw energy from.
The southpaw from Sinaloa, will not be afraid to attack Selby. When he fought a fellow southpaw with a longer reach two and a half months ago – Leduan Barthelemy – he went for it in their thrilling clash in Las Vegas. If Barthelemy thought he was going to have an advantage, he didn’t cater for Ramirez’s willingness to get in close. In effect he nullified the threat of the reach and made it an intense battle.
It was an energetic fight and a bruising encounter and a draw {Ramirez’s third draw in 23 bouts} that was a fair reflection for a fight were both men gave so much. And giving so much intensity and energy is something that Selby will need to be aware of and prepared for.
Selby has said this week that he wants to be remembered as a great fighter and a great champion. Focus is not something that Selby has ever had to worry about. He has always been a boxer who prepares well and is respectful of opponents in the lead up to fights.
This year has been a tough one for Selby. With his mother suddenly passing away shortly before his last fight, he then lost his grandfather within two weeks. He also lost his brother in 2008. So much loss for a young man, yet he remains focused and appreciates the good his sport gives him.
“If I wasn’t doing the boxing and I was just an average guy, just living day to day, then obviously I’d have a different approach to it. I’d be probably drinking and being depressed about it but instead I have something to channel everything into.”
Selby will need that sort of focus on Saturday. Not one to take his eye of the task in front of him, still he knows that the fight he and his fans want is a clash with Englishman Josh Warrington. Warrington is unbeaten and gunning for Selby. Denmark’s Dennis Ceylan was a barrier on his path to a fight with Selby, that he took care of with a 10th round knock-out in front of a home crowd in Leeds in October.
And both fighters have Carl Frampton in their sights too. But Selby for now, can’t afford to linger too long on the idea of Warrington or Frampton in 2018. Ramirez deserves his shot this weekend. Selby is odds on to win. But that won’t put Ramirez out in the slightest. In fact; he will draw on it.
