Lee Selby is set to headline BKB 61, which goes down in London on November 14th as the former IBF champ takes on the unbeaten bare-knuckle boxer, Ollie Sentance. Reflecting on his BKB 55 debut in the sport as he prepares for his sophomore walk to the BKB Trigon in the coming days, Selby said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“It was great to be back in the ring, or in the Trigon, after having four years out. I felt refreshed. It was great to fight in front of my home fans, my loyal fans who have traveled literally all around the world to support me. So, it was nice to give it back, give something back to them by fighting back at home. I felt great. No ring rust. Yeah, and I’m looking forward to doing the same again.”
Describing how his BKB experience was unlike anything that has ever happened to him during his time as a professional prizefighter, Lee Selby stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Well, what I meant by saying that like all for my boxing career, I’ve never been treated so well by the BKB promoters and production. They promoted me very well. They built the whole show around me. Like I said, promote me very well. I boxed and won and I was paid. My money was in my bank before I left the ring and I’d never experienced that in professional boxing. Yeah, it was great.”
With this fight being in London, in the context of how much the UK has been a historical bedrock for the sport of bare-knuckle boxing, Selby quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“It’s great to be back in London. I boxed at the O2 Arena as a professional more than any other venue. So, it’s sort of like my second home in boxing. I’ve headlined in London. I’ve [had] co-main events with Anthony Joshua as well. So, to be back headlining again, especially headlining my debut and now again my second fight, it is an absolute honor to be main event. I’m looking forward to put on a great show, a great performance, get the win, and I’ll hopefully be knocking on the door for the BKB world title.”
When asked if a win here could vault him toward a chance of becoming a two-sport titleholder, Lee Selby said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Yeah. So, nothing’s been said or or nothing’s on paper, but Ollie Sentance is ranked in the BKB. I think he’s maybe four or five. So a win over him will put me in title contention. The champion Estevan Partida, I think his name is, is a great champion. He’s unbeaten. All wins coming by knockout but I think our styles will gel. He’s a former professional boxer as well. So I think we’ll make for a great fight and one which I’m very confident in winning.”
Lee Selby on the stylistic approach that will “be a nightmare in bare knuckle boxing” for opposition
When discussing how he has moved that championship studiousness from Queensberry Rules to the world of gloveless combat, Lee Selby stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Yeah, exactly that. I’ve come in to BKB with a wealth of experience, championship pedigree, and it only makes sense that down the line to box for the BKB world title. Yeah, that’s the goal. That’s the main goal.”
With his own pedigree as an Olympian and explaining why he feels highly refined amateur boxers can make massive waves in the world of bare-knuckle boxing, Lee Selby quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Well, this fight [Malignaggi vs. Ortiz] I can see is a pipeline piece. It’s showing that former professional boxers can do it. They’re both older. They’re both older guys in the sport, but when they fight, it’ll be more of a boxing match rather than some of those early days bare knuckle boxing matches. Where it’s more of a fight, more of like a street fight and it looks a bit more brutal.”
“Here, we should see the sweet science of boxing play into bare knuckle boxing and then hopefully the younger boxers can see that they can do it too. They can make it a boxing match or in a fight and I think that could be a telling moment on why we can get some of the amateurs and younger professionals crossing over to the sport.”
Further delving into the shot selection-minded approach and more sharpshooting tendencies that elite amateur boxers could bring to BKB, Lee Selby said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“I agree. Like these young amateurs, even like young 18-year-old amateurs, you put one of them like an elite amateur in with an experienced bare knuckle boxer, they’ll give them nightmares just for their in-and-out style, not getting hit, fast hands, sharp, selective punches. I think they’ll be a nightmare in bare knuckle boxing and the shorter distance as well, the higher pace, shorter distance would suit amateur fighters.”
When asked how the story will unfurl against Ollie Sentance at BKB 61 in London, Lee Selby quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Not really. I don’t like predicting fight outcomes [laughs]. I’m quite superstitious like that. But all I know is I’m preparing myself how I would for any other fight, any world title fights, BKB debut, any fight whatsoever. I always say in the gym, I train religiously. I eat correct. I’d never skip sessions. I never take any shortcuts. So, I’ll be fully prepared for what Ollie Sentance brings.”
