(Courtesy of the Bristol Post) Lee Selby is backing stable-mate Lee Haskins to become Britain’s latest world boxing champion in Bristol next week.
The 28-year-old Welshman realised a boyhood dream when he stopped Russia’s Evgeny Gradovich to become the new IBF featherweight champion at London’s O2 Arena last Saturday.
And Newport-based Selby is now throwing his support behind training partner Haskins, who meets Japan’s Ryosuke Iwasa for the IBF Interim bantamweight title at the Whitchurch Sports Arena on Saturday, June 13.
Although Iwasa is ranked number three in the world according to the IBF, he has lost just once in 20 paid outings and is considered favourite to win in front of the Channel 5 TV cameras next week, Selby believes this is Haskins’ time.
“I’ve never seen him in such good shape as he is for this fight,” Selby told the Bristol Post. “In fact, I’ve never known Lee look forward to a fight as much as he is looking forward to this one.
“When two fighters he had beaten went on to become world champions and Lee didn’t get a shot, I thought his chance had gone. But he’s been patient and really deserves his chance. Iwasa is a really good fighter – he’s tall and hits hard and Lee will have his work cut out.
“Can he win? Definitely. I think after everything that has happened to Lee Haskins, all the frustrations and disappointments, this is his time.”
Without a world champion in 15 years, Bristol-based manager and promoter Chris Sanigar, who looks after the interests of both Selby and Haskins, could have two in the space of a fortnight.
“That would be amazing for Chris,” said Selby. “Glenn Catley was the last world champion to come out of the Bristol gym and that was 15 years ago.
“Chris has given so much to the sport and worked so hard, he deserves to be successful. I’ve done my bit and brought a world title back home to South Wales and Lee can do the same for Bristol.
“This is a boom time for British boxing and, hopefully, Haskins can do the same as I have done and put this country on the map.”
Tickets for the Hennessy Sports/Sanigar Events show are on sale, priced £35, £75 and £100, and can be booked by calling the box office on 0844 888 4402 or 0117 949 6699.
