Over in Arizona, in the early hours of this morning, the Welsh fighter Lee Selby made the first defence of his IBF featherweight crown, taking on the three-time world champion Fernando Montiel.
Ahead of the fight it was predicted it would be a tough affair and that Selby could be in for a hard nights? work and that is exactly as it turned out.
In a scrappy encounter, Selby held on to his belt, taking the points decision on the score-cards of all three judges, with the scores reading:-
? 119-109
? 118-110
? 116-112
But the score-cards don?t tell the full story of the fight. Montiel, a multiple-weight world champion, showed all his experience and made a difficult target for Selby to land any clean, punishing blows on.
In all honesty, it wouldn?t have surprised me if the points? decisions were a lot closer, it was that kind of fight.
But all credit to Lee Selby for taking a difficult fight as his first defence whilst also being prepared to go to the US to raise his profile.
It remains to be seen who Selby fights next, will pre-fight talk of a bout with Josh Warrington or Scott Quigg come to fruition?
Selby Retains IBF Featherweight World Title
