By Jake Donovan

Don’t count Fernando Montiel among those who believe boxing is still a young man’s game. The extent to which he’ll lend any credence to the suggestion is actually going after a young fighter, as the former three-division champ braces for his upcoming showdown with Lee Selby.

The featherweight title fight takes place this Wednesday at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., serving as the chief support to the latest installment of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on ESPN. Headlining the show, former two-division champ Devon Alexander faces Aron Martinez.

Montiel (54-4-2, 39KOs) enters the fight riding an eight-fight win streak. However, the 36-year old – who previously reigned at flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight - is in the twilight of his career, going up against a red-hot newly crowned champ eight years his junior.

Some view that as an uphill battle; the veteran boxer from Mexico sees it as a welcomed challenge.

“I wanted the opportunity to go after the world title, and he's a tremendous fighter,” Montiel said of taking Selby head-on in his pursuit of a world title in his fourth weight class. “He's young and I welcome the challenge against one of the very best fighters in the world.”

Selby (21-1, 8KOs) is a healthy betting favorite, despite the bout serving as his first in the United States. The 28-year old from Wales has spent his entire career to date fighting in the United Kingdom. Following his title-winning effort over Evgeny Gradovich in May, it was decided by his team that now was the time to develop his brand in the United States.

With that came the opportunity to face Montiel, who believes he will be able to give the visiting champion a new look in more ways than one.

“I'm ready to take the belt away from Lee Selby. The same way he feels when he fights in the United Kingdom, he will experience the other side,” Montiel believes. “There are a lot of Mexican fans in Arizona, and I know the crowd will be behind me.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox

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