Lee Selby on the attack against Eduardo Ramirez
Lee Selby on the attack against Eduardo Ramirez

Boxing betting odds: Lee Selby a hot favourite to beat Josh Warrington if they meet in 2018


Lee Selby says he is keen to face fellow Brit Josh Warrington - a fight for which he is a 1/6 favourite - after successfully defending his IBF world featherweight title against Eduardo Ramirez at the Copper Box in London. 

The Welshman secured a unanimous points victory over Ramirez, although his belt was not on the line after the Mexican failed to make the weight.

The 30-year-old Selby, who lost his mother just days before he defended his title against Jonathan Victor Barros in July - a fight which had been postponed after the Argentine failed a blood test - appeared keen to put on a good show.

Ramirez may have arrived in England 8lbs over the featherweight limit, but he, too, was up for the fight, and the southpaw provided a nagging test throughout the 12 rounds.

England's Warrington is Selby's mandatory challenger after beating Dennis Ceylan in October, and Selby believes the fight would be good for British boxing.

"First of all it's a massive fight," Selby told BT Sport. "He has earned the mandatory position so to get there he has to be a good fighter.

"We've sort of exchanged words in the past but a fight between Josh and I would be massive and fantastic for British boxing."

Sky Bet make it rather one-sided, however. They go 1/6 Selby with Warrington the 4/1 outsider.

Lee Selby with his IBF world-title belt
Lee Selby with his IBF world-title belt

On Ramirez, Selby added: "I thought it was a decent performance against a very game Mexican fighter who was unbeaten, came from a great stable.

"They knew me inside out, they knew what to expect and they sent him in with the best game plan possible."

Warrington, who was working ringside as a pundit for BT Sport, also insisted he was keen to fight Selby in 2018.

"First of all before we start talking about contracts, it's nice to be talked about a decent fighter rather than just average. 

"He's done what he's had to do. I'm not bothered if I have to go to Cardiff... it's no big deal to me and a lot of Leeds will travel with me, but if we can get a big stadium fight at Elland Road that will be massive."

The Mexican came out full of intent in the opening exchanges but as the contest wore on, Selby, fighting in white shorts with gold trim, began to wear his opponent down.

Selby caught Ramirez with some good shots towards the end of the third before an upper cut in the closing moments of the fifth and a clean left in the ensuing round, ensured he was ahead on the scorecard when the fight reached its midway point.

Despite his endeavour, Ramirez, who until Saturday night had never been the distance, began to tire, but Selby failed to take meaningful advantage.

The Welshman appeared intent on ending the bout with a stoppage in the final round, but despite a slip from Ramirez, his opponent made it to the bell.

The judges scored the contest 118-110, 119-109, 116-112 in Selby's favour as the Welshman successfully defended his title for a fourth time.

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