ST JOSEPH’S star Lee Selby has paid tribute to trainer Tony Borg for guiding him from a novice professional to a world title challenger.

The Barry boxer is convinced that he will become the first world champion at St Joes in Newport when he takes on Evgeny Gradovich for the IBF featherweight title on Saturday, May 30.

And he knows that Borg has been a key factor in his rise from the Newport Centre to London’s O2 Arena.

“Tony has played a massive part since I turned pro in 2008,” said Selby.

“He’s been there every step of the way and he keeps me motivated and keeps me in line.

“I’ve trained with some great fighters at St Joes – Olympians and British, Commonwealth and European champions but I want to be the gym’s first world champion.

“And that is what is going to happen on May 30 – there’s no doubt in my mind that I will be champ.”

Selby made his pro debut at the Newport Centre in July 2008 with a routine points victory over Sid Razak.

That set him on the road to glory and the 28-year-old Chris Sanigar fighter has lost just once in his subsequent 20 fights – a points defeat to Samir Mouneimne in Stoke in 2009.

Selby’s rise has been spectacular since he added the Celtic belt to his Welsh title with a TKO victory over James Ancliff at the Pill Millennium Centre in July 2011.

He beat Stephen Smith in his next fight to claim the British and Commonwealth belts and has since added the WBC International and the European titles to his collection.

Unbeaten Russian Gradovich, making his fifth defence of his IBF belt, will provide Selby with a tough task.

But the man dubbed the Welsh Mayweather after his frequent training sessions at Floyd Mayweather’s gym in Los Angeles is undaunted.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I remember that fight against James Ancliff at the Pill Millennium Centre – a tiny little sports Hall – and now I’m fighting at the O2 Arena in front of 30,000.

“I’ve come a long way but I’m ready and I will be champ.”

Selby continues his preparations with a public workout in front of Sky TV cameras in King’s Square, Barry, from 1pm on Saturday afternoon.

He is joined on the May 30 show by Blackwood’s Craig Evans, his fellow St Joes fighter, who takes on Scott Cardle for the vacant British lightweight title.

Top of the bill is Kell Brook v Frankie Gavin for the IBF world welterweight belt and Kevin Mitchell v Jorge Linares for the WBC world lightweight title.

Olympic champion Anthony Joshua is also in action.

Sky Sports Box Office will show Selby v Gradovich exclusively live on May 30. Buy now at skysports.com/brookgavin