Lee Selby Retires in Peace After 27 Years of Boxing
Boxing is a sport that can raise emotions to the highest heights and take them to the lowest of lows. Fighters often leave the sport on the latter portion of the previous statement. Former IBF featherweight champion “Lightning” Lee Selby (28-4, 9KOs) leaves the sport of his own will and with no money problems or regrets.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO BECOMING A WORLD CHAMPION
Born in Wales, United Kingdom, the 35-year-old was an accomplished amateur fighting out of Rhoose Amateur Boxing Club. After having around ninety bouts, the talented young fighter turned professional in 2008.
Things started good for the Wales fighter, until suffering the first defeat in his fourth fight against Samir Mounejmne in 2009. However, he regrouped to go on an amazing 22-fight win streak over nine years. Selby’s accolades are nothing to sneeze at. He won the Commonwealth British title, BBBofC title, WBC International title, EBU European title, and the IBF championship. Furthermore, he made four successful defenses of the IBF title before losing it in a narrow split decision against two-time IBF champion Josh Warrington back in 2018. Selby secured back-to-back wins after losing the title. Still, after suffering two consecutive defeats, it was time.
SAYING FAREWELL TO THE FANS
Selby, no longer fighting as a featherweight, decided to test the waters in a stacked lightweight division. In 2020, he suffered a controversial split decision defeat in an IBF title eliminator to current unified champion George Kambosos.
The former IBF champion took a seventeen-month hiatus before stepping back into the ring against unknown Gustavo Daniel Lemos on March 27. Fighting in Argentina for the first time in his career, Selby suffered the most humiliating defeat of his career in a second title eliminator as he was stopped for the first time.
From the sound of the bell, it was clear that Selby was no longer the same top-level fighter. Coming to grips with the fact it was time to say goodbye, Selby did so with no regrets. Lightning took to social media to say farewell to the entire boxing community and expressed his gratitude for all the support.
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By: Garrisson Bland
