Lee Selby looks set to be granted home advantage in his mandatory challenge for the IBF World featherweight title held by Evgeny Gradovich, at a date yet to be set.
This was confirmed this week by Egis Klimas, the US based Russian’s manager, who also manages the affairs of Sergey Kovalev and the sensational Vasyl Lomachenko.
When speaking to Boxingscene.com Klimas confirmed that negotiations with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing continue this week, with a distinct possibility that the fight will have to be held in the UK.
Klimas is keen to point out that it is the Welshman’s lack of salability in the US, which is causing the problems, as well as Russia being unable to stage the fight within the IBF stipulated timescales.
Klimas concluded, that all rounds point to the British Isles.
The promoter of course has a point. The fight would be a hard sell in the US within what is a saturated market in the wake of Al Haymon’s recent announcements and Top Rank having bigger fish to fry.
The UK is where this fight makes the most sense and the most money.
The recent comments will be music to Selby’s ears. He was magnificent when stopping Australian Joel Brunker in nine rounds back in October and will fancy the job against the Russian, who stylistically looks made for him.
Klimas is 100% correct, Selby is not big news in the US just yet, but I expect that to change and fast this coming year, starting with a dream maiden World title victory on home soil.