Lee Selby vs Omar Douglas Preview

Lee Selby vs Omar Douglas Preview

By Matthew Dean

At the O2 Arena on Saturday night on the undercard to DeGale and Eubank Jr will be Lee Selby (26-2-0. 9KOs) vs Omar Douglas (19-2-0. 13KOs). The Welshman, on a comeback after his shock defeat to Josh Warrington, is back and moving up two divisions to lightweight.

Selby hasn’t fought since he lost to Warrington in May 2018. That was a shock for all watching that night but he was simply outboxed. Having watched how brilliantly Warrington then dismantled Carl Frampton means this loss was no fluke to a fighter who got lucky but rather a loss to another talented young man.

Selby, 32, has conceded he doesn’t know much about his Douglas his 28-year-old foe but certainly doesn’t want an easy comeback fight. He wants to be tested.

Douglas turned pro in 2011 after a good amateur career and is a 5 time winner of the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves 5. He hasn’t fought outside the US yet but has beaten the likes of Frank De Alba, Alexei Collardo and Haskell Rhodes. However he has lost to Javier Fortuna and Edner Cherry as well and his ring schedule over the last few years has been spartan to say the least. Just 36 rounds over 6 fights since the end of 2015 compared to 5 fights and 57 rounds for Selby.

This matchup is scheduled for 12 rounds and Douglas has never been in a 12 round fight. But let’s not forget with 13 KOs from 21 fights he obviously has some kind of punch.

Selby has an 8cm reach disadvantage and has lost twice. To Josh Warrington in 2018 and Samir Mouneimne in 2009. However the former IBF featherweight champ thinks that moving up to lightweight will reinvent his career. He admitted that getting to the featherweight limit meant he would struggle around this time in his training camp and has in the past needed to stop sparring a few weeks out because making weight meant he had so little energy

“I think I’ll be a better fighter at lightweight,” Selby said committing that the extra weight would make him more explosive.

Douglas was complimentary towards his opponent saying he was grateful for the opportunity to fight in the show and the UK fans to see him in action. He added that

“Lee Selby is a solid fighter, but I know in my heart that I’m an undefeated fighter and that will make me very dangerous. I will show it on February 23.

However he is acutely aware that he needs to capitalise on the fact that Selby is coming off a loss whereas he has already come back from his 2 losses.

Come fight night expect Douglas to look to take out the Welshman early. I would hope to see a rejuvenated Selby giving a masterful boxing display and showcasing his talent. Meaning he has learned more than the last loss than 5 wins may have yielded.