Brooke v Gavin: Lee Selby is taking on the IBF's fighter of the year, Evgeny Gradovich
Monday 25 May 2015 13:37, UK
Evgeny Gradovich has arrived in the United Kingdom after being named IBF fighter of the year.
The Russian featherweight will defend his title against Lee Selby at the O2 on Saturdaty, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Gradovich (19-0-KO9) hasn't boxed this year but this will be his fifth defence since taking the IBF strap from Billy Dibs in March 2013.
It was enough to earn the honour from an organistion that has the likes of Kell Brook, Carl Frampton, Wladimir Klitschko and Sergey Kovalev as their champions.
The man knowns as 'El Ruso Mexicano' landed on these shores on Sunday and is confident he will beat Selby and leave with as the IBF featherweight champion.
“He'll want to be at his best because he's the home fighter but for me it doesn't matter where I fight because I am the champion,” said Gradovich.
“It's a good opportunity for me to box in England for the first time and I am really looking forward to the challenge.
“I am not going to let him take the title from me. I worked too hard to get it and even harder to keep it.
"I love being the World champion, it’s the best feeling in the world and I want to keep that feeling going. Boxing is my passion, I love every bit of it, and boxing at the elite level like I do is like nothing else, it's just my favourite thing to do.
“The camp has been good, I've been working hard and I try to do my best. We don't prepare for a special fight, we always prepare well.
"All my training camps are good because everyone in my team are people that I believe in and they work so hard to get it right on the night.”
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
