Lee Selby


Lee Selby is a Welsh professional boxer. He held the IBF featherweight title from 2015 to 2018, and previously the British, Commonwealth, and European featherweight titles between 2011 and 2014. As of September 2019, Selby is ranked as the world's fourth best active lightweight by BoxRec

Professional boxing career

Early boxing career

Selby began his professional career on 12 July 2008 with a win over Sid Razak at the Newport Leisure Centre in Wales. He compiled a record of 4-0 before losing for the first time in his professional career to Samir Mouneimne by points decision in a four-round contest at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke on 29 May 2009. Selby won his next three fights before beating Dai Davies for the Welsh Area title on 30 October 2010 claiming the belt with a second-round knockout. On 30 July 2011, he met Scotsman James Ancliff for the vacant Celtic featherweight title and claimed the belt with a sixth-round stoppage.

British Champion

On 17 September 2011, Selby claimed the British and Commonwealth titles with a win over then champion Stephen Smith via an eighth-round stoppage at the Olympia in Liverpool. Despite being the underdog going into the fight Selby took control of the centre of the ring and caught Smith with a left hand in the 8th round, a punch from which Smith was unable to recover. Selby said after the fight that the win "feels like I've won a world title" adding "It's something that I have been dreaming about since I was a kid. It's a big achievement and not a lot of people have done it".
On 20 April 2013 Selby dismantled the former unbeaten Australian champion Corey McConnell. McConell's corner threw in the towel in the fifth round.

WBC International Championship

Selby vs. Simion

On 13 July 2013, Lee Selby took another step towards a world title shot when he faced in Hull the unbeaten Romanian boxer and ranked at fourth by the WBC, Viorel Simion, and won the WBC International featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory. According to some prominent boxing writers, the British rising star passed the toughest test of his career in a very close fight.

IBF featherweight champion

Selby vs. Gradovich

In May 2015, Lee Selby won the IBF featherweight title from Evgeny Gradovich. The fight ended in a unanimous TD after Gradovich was cut from an accidental head clash, and was unable to continue.

Selby vs. Montiel

Selby retained his IBF featherweight title in October 2015 with a win over Mexican Fernando Montiel in Arizona. He dedicated the win to his childhood friend Darren Bray, who had recently died.

Selby vs. Barros

On July 2017, Lee made his next defence of his IBF featherweight crown. Just weeks before the fight, Selby received shocking news of his mother's sudden death in Wales, and his family urged him to pull out of the fight. Selby decided to continue training days later, and dedicate the fight to his mother.

Selby vs. Kambosas

Selby was scheduled to face George Kambosas Jnr in Cardiff on May 9th but was postponed due to the coronovirus

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
31 George Kambosos Jnr– 3 Oct 2020Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales.png" />
30Win28–2 Ricky Burns1226 Oct 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England
29Win27–2 Omar DouglasUD1223 Feb 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England
28Loss26–2 Josh Warrington1219 May 2018 Elland Road, Leeds, EnglandLost IBF featherweight title
27Win26–1 Eduardo RamirezUD129 Dec 2017 Copper Box Arena, London, EnglandRetained IBF featherweight title
26Win25–1 Jonathan Victor BarrosUD1215 Jul 2017 The SSE Arena Wembley, London, EnglandRetained IBF featherweight title
25Win24–1 Andoni GagoTKO9, 0:414 Mar 2017 The O2 Arena, London, England
24Win23–1 Eric HunterUD129 Apr 2016 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandRetained IBF featherweight title
23Win22–1 Fernando MontielUD1214 Oct 2015 Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona, USRetained IBF featherweight title
22Win21–1 Evgeny Gradovich8, 1:0030 May 2015 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandWon IBF featherweight title;
Unanimous TD after Gradovich cut from accidental head clash
21Win20–1 Joel BrunkerTKO9, 2:4911 Oct 2014 The O2 Arena, London, England
20Win19–1 Romulo KoasichaUD1217 May 2014 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, WalesRetained WBC International featherweight title
19Win18–1 Rendall MunroeTKO6, 1:311 Feb 2014 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, WalesRetained British featherweight title;
Won vacant European featherweight title
18Win17–1 Ryan WalshUD125 Oct 2013 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandRetained British, and Commonwealth featherweight titles
17Win16–1 Viorel SimionUD1213 Jul 2013 Craven Park, Hull, EnglandWon WBC International featherweight title
16Win15–1 Corey McConnellTKO5, 1:1620 Apr 2013 Winter Gardens, Blackpool, EnglandRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
15Win14–1 Martin Lindsay129 Feb 2013 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained British, and Commonwealth featherweight titles
14Win13–1 Patrick OkineTKO5, 1:5425 May 2012 Leisure Centre, Newport, WalesRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
13Win12–1 John SimpsonTKO5, 2:0214 Dec 2011 York Hall, London, EnglandRetained British, and Commonwealth featherweight titles
12Win11–1 Stephen SmithKO8, 2:0417 Sep 2011 Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, EnglandWon British, and Commonwealth featherweight titles
11Win10–1 James Ancliff6, 2:1230 Jul 2011 Pillgwenlly Millennium Centre, Newport, WalesWon vacant British Celtic featherweight title
10Win9–1 Youssef Al HamidiPTS627 Apr 2011 Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England
9Win8–1 Dai Davies2, 1:5330 Oct 2010 Leisure Centre, Newport, WalesWon vacant Welsh Area featherweight title
8Win7–1 Ben JonesPTS625 Jul 2010 Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, England
7Win6–1 Jimmy BriggsPTS420 Nov 2009 Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales
6Win5–1 Ian BaileyPTS610 Aug 2009 Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London, England
5Loss4–1 Samir MouneimnePTS429 May 2009 Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke-on-Trent, England
4Win4–0 Johnny GreavesPTS613 Mar 2009 Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales
3Win3–0 Craig JohnsonPTS427 Feb 2009 Metrodome, Barnsley, England
2Win2–0 Peter BuckleyPTS624 Oct 2008 Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales
1Win1–0 Sid Razak612 Jul 2008 Leisure Centre, Newport, Wales

Personal life

Selby is the brother of GB Boxing's 2012 Olympic flyweight representative Andrew Selby