Lee Selby could make the third defence of his world title in all-British fight against Josh Warrington at Leeds United’s Elland Road.
Selby climbed off the floor to retain his IBF featherweight belt with a wide points victory over American Eric Hunter at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night.
Wales’ only current world champion recovered well from the first knockdown of his career – professional or amateur – to rack up a convincing victory on all the judges’ cards.
Points tallies of 115-111, 116-110 and 116-110 were evidence of Selby’s durability and attention now turns to his next defence.
The Barry fighter is promoted by Eddie Hearn, who would like to match his champion with Warrington who has taken Selby’s vacated Commonwealth, British, European and WBC International titles.
Warrington has a big fan following and a fight at Elland Road would attract major interest, probably meaning a mooted Selby contest against Irish IBF super-bantamweight champion Carl Frampton would have to wait until next year.
After his victory over Hunter, Selby said: “When I got put down it was only a flash knockdown. I’ve got one of the best chins in the business and I wasn’t hurt. He was a good fighter but I was too good for him.”
Selby took the centre of the ring in the opening round and stabbed out punches as Hunter spent much of the three minutes on the back foo
But Hunter exploded into life in the second, uncorking a big left hook that sent Selby crashing onto his back.
Rising quickly from the canvas, Selby had been dropped for the first time in his professional career, ending any lingering thoughts of a routine title defence.
He tried to find his feet in the third and landed a crisp right hand before spinning neatly out of range.
Selby seemed to be settling into his rhythm and started the fourth with another swift right, although Hunter gave a further glimpse of his threat when he countered with that dangerous hook.
But the steady work-rate was coming from Selby, who rattled in that accurate right in the fifth, and Hunter shook his head after being tagged by more sharp shots in the sixth.
Hunter, nicknamed ‘The Outlaw’, had been disqualified twice previously and was ticked off by referee Marcus McDonnell after a low blow in the seventh.
This illegal shot drew a fiery response from Selby, with both men trading big hooks, and Hunter appeared to be troubled by a left hand.
With the fight drifting away, Hunter fought with more desperation in the eighth and his punches again drifted below the belt line, receiving a point deduction from McDonnell.
Despite this punishment, Hunter strayed low once more to receive a final warning in the ninth, while Selby watched on with his usual calmness.
In the closing rounds, Hunter unloaded more hooks, seeking another telling punch to change his fortunes, but Selby was satisfied with his points tally and skipped neatly away from danger.