Lee Selby delighted with world title win over Evgeny Gradovich
Saturday 30 May 2015 21:55, UK
Lee Selby was lost for words after winning the IBF featherweight title at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.
The Welshman produced a masterclass to beat champion Evgeny Gradovich on a technical decision.
The fight was stopped in the eighth, after a head clash left the Russian with a cut above his left eye. However, there was no doubt who would be crowned the winner when it went to the scorecards – Selby prevailing 79-73, 79-73, 80-72.
“To be honest I can't explain how I feel,” Selby – who had Gradovich in trouble in the sixth - told Sky Sports. “I've been working for this for so long. It just means so much.
“When I caught him I wobbled him, I didn’t bother following up, I was just going to break him down and put on a show for the fans and then take him out in style.
“We had two accidental clashes of heads, but I won every round up to that.”
Gradovich was on the front foot for much of the contest but Selby picked him off well and evaded the Russian’s attacks in style.
Selby said of his tactics: “I go into fights and adapt. In the first round I see their style. If I have to go forward, I can go forward and fight, if I have to box on the back foot I can do that as well.
“I see what they come with, listen to my corner and box to instructions.”
