Selby defends IBF title on American debut with Warrington observing

In spite of his battling maiden defence, Selby was still disappointed in his performance, dissatisfied that he had not given the American fans a better glimpse of his slick and concise ring talents.

“My jab, reach and speed were my biggest advantages tonight,” said the champion. “That was how I got the win. All the cuts I’ve had in my career have come against shorter fighters like [Montiel]. When I got cut tonight in the sixth round it was the same thing. I caught a head butt.

“I was honestly disappointed in my performance tonight. I got the win and it was a great feeling to get my first one on US soil, but the fans didn’t see me at my best, and a big part of that was Montiel’s experience. He’s a great fighter.”

Commonwealth champion Warrington is tipped as a potential opponent for Selby in his next IBF title defence in 2016, and the undefeated Leeds fighter was critical of what he witnessed from the featherweight belt holder in America.

“I’ve got three pages down here, I’ve been writing down quite a bit,” Warrington added after watching Selby’s latest bout.

“I’ve been saying for the last couple of years that there’s things we could probably do, if it works or not who knows, but we believe we’re ready to beat him. I’ve got to keep on winning and hope he keeps champ and then it could pay off.”

The pair were previously touted for a showdown at Elland Road next year, an all-British battle which would undoubtedly generate a mass following in Warrington’s home city, and Selby’s hard-fought defence could see that encounter soon be agreed.

Selby’s brutal match-up came just days before another huge weekend of boxing in the United States, as Kazakhstan bruiser Gennady Golovkin prepares for a mammoth middleweight meeting with fellow hard-hitter David Lemieux.

Fan-favourite ‘GGG’ is odds-on 1/14 to triumph by knockout and extend his rampant unbeaten record in New York, while Canadian devastator Lemieux is 9/1 to cause a huge upset with a stoppage in what is sure to be an enthralling clash.

Watch highlights of Lee Selby successfully defending his IBF featherweight strap against veteran Mexican fighter Fernando Montiel in Arizona.

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