LEE Selby’s three-year reign as IBF world featherweight champion came to an abrupt end last night after a split decision defeat to challenger Josh Warrington.
Fighting at Elland Road, the home of his beloved Leeds United, Warrington became the Yorkshire city’s first boxer to win a global title.
St Joseph’s ace Selby never recovered from Warrington’s lightning quick start and was hampered by cuts above both eyes following accidental head clashes in rounds two and six.
He was given the verdict by one ringside judge but the other two rightly awarded the contest to Warrington (113-115, 116-112, 115-113), who extended his unbeaten record to 27-0.
The Englishman can now look forward to a potential meeting with former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton later this year.
A clash with the Northern Irishman was something that had been on Selby’s radar prior to losing his crown.
He will now have time to reflect on a performance against Warrington that fell well below his usual high standard.
A lot of the damage was done in the early rounds as Warrington seemed to get his tactics spot on.
Referee Michael Alexander may have stopped the fight in the sixth round due to Selby’s cuts but the doctor said the champion could continue.
If the bout had been halted it would have gone to the scorecards and Selby’s fate sealed sooner.
Selby bravely kept going and picked up rounds without ever troubling his opponent, who knew that only a late stoppage by the Barry man would deny him.
The power in Selby’s punches lacked any real bite and a last-gasp knockout failed to materialise.
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