Andrew Selby Motivated To Claim The World Title

Andrew Selby admits the memory of his near-miss two years ago is driving him on to finally claim the world title in Almaty, Kazakhstan this weekend.

The Welsh flyweight suffered heartbreak in Baku in 2011 when he was controversially beaten in the final by Russia's Misha Aloian by a single point.

If Selby wins his semi-final on Friday against Uzbekistan's Jasurbek Latipov, he could earn a rematch with Aloian, who faces Chatchai Butdee of Thailand in the other last four clash.

Selby said: "I got silver last time in Baku and I thought I did enough to win it, so I'm going to do everything to go one better this time round.

"I'm looking forward to my semi-final. My last one was a close one against the home boxer, but I think I did very well against the Cuban and I'm always confident."

Selby faces a tough test against the fourth-seeded Latipov, who won a scruffy bout against Ireland's Paddy Barnes in the quarter-finals.

Liverpool's Antony Fowler will have to silence the home fans if he is to book his place in his first world final as he faces Kazakhstan's Zhanibek Alimkhanuly at middleweight.

Also at middleweight, Ireland's reigning European champion Jason Quigley faces Russia's Artem Chebotarev while Joe Ward is up against sharp Cuban Julio Pereza in their last four clash at light-heavyweight.