Lee Selby can become Wales' latest world champion by beating Evgeny Gradovich
Wednesday 27 May 2015 14:17, UK
Lee Selby can join the list of Welsh world champions by beating Evgeny Gradovich, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Some say he could be as good as the best the country has produced but first he has to win the IBF featherweight title on Saturday night.
To set the scene, we profile some of the company he hopes to keep...
Steve Robinson
Robinson was just 23 years old when in 1993 he came from relative obscurity to win the vacant WBO featherweight title by beating John Davison in Washington, Tyne and Wear.
Although he had never been stopped since turning professional in 1989, the Cardiff fighter had a chequered record and was working as a storeman in Debenham's. He had just suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Mehdi Labdouni in Paris when the call came.
Champion Ruben Palacios had relinquished the belt on medical grounds and Robinson, who had lost nine of his 23 fights at the time, was offered £12,000 to face Newcastle native Davison for the vacant title. He was wolfing down pie and chips and the fight was just two days away when his trainer Ronnie Rush agreed to it.
Davison had just knocked out Tim Driscoll in seven rounds to win the British title and was in tip-top shape having trained for the Palacios fight. With the 'Geordie Nation' at Davison's back, Robinson was set for a tough night on Tyneside.
But Robinson was determined to cause an upset and after 12 attritional rounds was awarded a unanimous 115-114, 115-114, 116-14 decision, becoming Wales' first world champion for 25 years.
Recalling that night, Robinson said: "The champagne was flowing but I’m not a drinker, I had a sip but no more. I could have come back by plane but I went home on the bus with my supporters – all 12 of them!"
Robinson made seven defences of his crown before his reign was ended at Cardiff Arms Park on September 30, 1995, when a flashy young fighter named 'Prince' Naseem Hamed laid his hands on a world title for the first time via an eighth-round stoppage.
Joe Calzaghe
Only recently surpassed by Floyd Mayweather Jr in terms of the length of an undefeated record, when Calzaghe hung up his gloves after beating Roy Jones Jr in November 2008 his record stood at 46-0 and he had held the WBO super-middleweight title for over 11 years.
The southpaw from Newbridge stopped 12 opponents on the spin between May 1995 and June 1997 to earn his shot at the vacant WBO crown against Chris Eubank that October. Only Steve Collins (on points) had managed to get the better of the eccentric Brighton fighter in 49 fights and the Irishman had since retired to leave the belt available.
Despite being just 25, Calzaghe was not intimidated by the big stage and served a warning of his intentions in the opening seconds - knocking Eubank down with a sharp left counter that ignited the Sheffield Arena.
Eubank was quickly to his feet, smiling. The 31-year-old regrouped and came on strongly to test Calzaghe's chin with several barrages in the latter rounds, but the younger man was awarded a comfortable 116-111, 118-110, 118-109 victory to become a world champion.
Calzaghe said afterwards: "I said that I was going to knock him out but that night was the hardest I've had in the whole of my boxing career... only my heart and fitness brought me through the ordeal."
There were some memorable defences along the way for Calzaghe. In December 2000 he stopped domestic rival and former WBC champion Richie Woodall in the 10th, in 2006 he defied expectations to school Jeff Lacy on points and add the IBF title to his collection, and also won decisions over Mikkel Kessler and Bernard Hopkins before calling it a day.
Enzo Maccarinelli
Maccarinelli had been professional for six and a half years and had built up a reputation as a fearsome puncher, suffering defeat once and being taken the distance just six times in the 24 fights that led to his first shot at an interim world cruiserweight title.
WBC champion Marcelo Fabian Dominguez of Argentina was the opponent and Maccarinelli had the benefit of home support at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on July 8, 2006.
The Swansea native had to soak up some pressure early on as Dominguez tried to burrow his way inside, and it was not until the visitor had slowed up in the middle rounds that Maccarinelli was able to fully utilise his superior reach advantage.
In the ninth, Dominguez again attempted to fight at close-quarters but his tactics were his undoing when Maccarinelli landed the perfect uppercut to send his opponent spinning back into the ropes and on to the canvas. Although he rose to his feet, Dominguez was in no fit state to continue and Maccarinelli had won.
Injuries to Johnny Nelson meant he vacated his WBO crown and Maccarinelli was promoted to full champion after stopping Mark Hobson inside a round later that year - but he lost his strap in emphatic fashion when trying to take David Haye's WBA and WBC titles.
Although 'Big Mac' became British champion again he failed to get his hands on another world title - losing to Ola Afolabi for the WBO cruiserweight belt and as recently as April 2014 failing in a bid to relieve Juergen Braehmer of the WBA light-heavyweight title.
Gavin Rees
Gavin 'The Rock' Rees had amassed an impressive record of 26-0 when he stepped up a level to challenge Souleymane M'Baye for the WBA light-welterweight title on July 21, 2007.
The Frenchman had lost just once in his career - to Vivian Harris under the bright lights of Las Vegas - and won the belt by defeating Raul Horacio Balbi in Bolton a year previously. Despite this, Rees headed for Cardiff to fight in front of his home fans confident of becoming world champion.
Rees, over five inches shorter than the visiting champion, was busy from the first bell as he targeted the body with fierce hooks. M'Baye was never at the races and Rees was awarded a 117-112, 117-113, 118-10 decision to fulfil his childhood dream.
The 27-year-old said afterwards: "From the first bell I outpunched him every round. I started to tire towards the end but I had won the first eight rounds. No one expected me to beat him. No one at all. There were massive odds in the bookies everywhere but I told everyone from the start I was going to win."
Unfortunately, Rees' reign did not last long - he was dethroned by Andriy Kotelnik in the same arena just eight months later and failed in his bid to regain a world title when he was stopped in five by Adrien Broner at lightweight in February 2013.
Nathan Cleverly
Cleverly's first big night arrived on December 11, 2012. His 10th round stoppage of Karo Murat in a WBO light-heavyweight eliminator earned him a shot at the interim world champion Nadjib Mohammedi.
Although he was deducted a point in the seventh round, Cleverly edged to a 115-112, 116-111, 115-113 victory. He spoke of his frustration afterwards, stating: "He was a very awkward opponent."
Despite the underwhelming victory, the Cefn Forest fighter advanced to a chance at the WBO title proper and took on Polish dangerman Aleksy Kuziemski, who had only ever lost to Juergen Braehmer (via late stoppage).
The O2 Arena played host to the clash and this time Cleverly excelled under the pressure. With an opponent who had just turned 34, Cleverly was the naturally faster man and made this pay with some razor-sharp combinations in the opening rounds.
The Pole's face was a mess by the fourth as Cleverly's accurate body punches were opening up some free shots to the head. Referee Mark Nelson waved it off due to a bad cut over Kuziemski's left eye and Cleverly was a bona fide world champion.
He managed four defences and held the belt until August 2013, when he surrendered it to Sergey Kovalev, but will fight for another title this September when he takes on Braehmer in Germany.
Watch Selby v Gradovich live and exclusive as part of Brook v Gavin, on Sky Sports Box Office on May 30, with Joshua and Mitchell also on. Book via your phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote. skysports.com/brookgavin
