Selby: ‘All I want now is the big fights’

IBF world featherweight champion Lee Selby is happy to concede ‘A-side’ status to Carl Frampton as negotiations over a colossal all-British showdown continue.

Despite being the prospective challenger, Frampton’s two clashes with Leo Santa Cruz have won him widespread exposure — and Selby is more concerned with acquiring that limelight in the ring than on exerting authority pre-fight.

The Welshman (24-1, 9 KOs) told ESPN: “They can call me A, B, C, D, E, F or G-side. I don’t care. As long as they arrange the fights, I’ll win them.

“I don’t think I’m holding the trump cards over Frampton in negotiations because he’s probably the bigger draw as it stands. Even though he’s not a world champion, he’s higher-profile and has a bigger name.

“It doesn’t really bother me, to be honest, if he’s got the upper hand in negotiations. I’m happy for him to have the lion’s share as long as I get my decent pay because I know I’ll be victorious in the end and then I’ll be holding the cards anyway.

“It’d be nice to fight in Cardiff but we don’t have a suitable arena unless it’s against a really high-profile fighter. The Motorpoint Arena isn’t really big enough and to fill the Millennium Stadium, it would have to be against a big name.

“All I want now is the big fights. I’ve won the world title and I’ve defended it twice. Now all I want is those high-profile fights.”

Frampton’s former super-bantamweight rival, Scott Quigg, became Selby’s mandatory challenger by beating Viorel Simion on points on April 29 — but ‘The Welsh Mayweather’ was unimpressed by the Lancastrian’s first display under new coach Freddie Roach.

Selby told ESPN: “With Quigg, I hold the cards in the negotiations.

“All Quigg did against Simion was try to wear him down with his fitness and strength. Maybe he knew Simion was quite old and thought he’d tire sooner than he did but regardless, Quigg is tailor-made for me.

“It’d be a very entertaining fight if he tries to force it but I think my style simply beats him. I think Eric Hunter, who I defended my title against, would beat Quigg too. A good boxer will always beat a good fighter. I think Fernando Montiel would’ve beaten Quigg in his day and maybe Ryan Walsh would’ve too.”

Selby, 30, won the belt by halting Evgeny Gradovich in May 2015.