Gradovich Coach: Selby's Trash Talk Fuels Motivation

By Ben Jacobs

Strength and conditioning coach, Cicilio Flores, will be delighted at the performance of his charge Vasyl Lomachenko on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather - Manny Pacquiao super fight last Saturday. His attentions however, will now turn to his other world champion, Evgeny Gradovich who defends his IBF featherweight belt against Welshman Lee Selby in London on May 30.

Flores has previously worked with the likes of Sergio Martínez and Sergey Kovalev and will be straight back to work this week with the 'Mexican Russian'.

"Gradovich is doing really well, this is his fifth week. This is kind of an off week for him," explained Flores to BoxingScene.com before the Lomachenko fight.

"I gave him some homework to do but once I get back from Lomachenko we'll be back on the saddle again and we'll have four weeks left. We head to London I think on the 23rd and finish camp out there. These four weeks were tough for him but he's a beast, he likes to be pushed and he's very excited about this defence. Lee likes to talk a lot and that's created more of a motivation for Gradovich to shut him up and really make a statement."

Selby has only lost one fight in his career thus far which came in just his fifth professional bout, on points over four rounds. The 28-year-old has impressed in recent times with knockout wins over the likes of Stephen Smith and Rendall Munroe. He is also a frequent visitor to the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas.

"I hear he comes to the States for sparring, that's good for him," Flores continued.

"That's why he is where he's at, the number one guy, the mandatory. You've got to do things like that to become better, get out of your comfort zone, that's huge of Lee to do that. He's a dangerous fighter, it's not going to be an easy fight, we’re going to his backyard and we've got to come out swinging from the first round to the last round and Gradovich is ready to do that.

"With regards to his training, I know Robert [García] is working on some things with him, I'm working on other things to increase his strength and to be more agile for this particular fight. There's a couple of things and he always welcomes changes and improvement. That's the key to success in this boxing world, you've got to keep evolving. My job is to prepare him for 12 hard rounds. Gradovich will make it a war, that's his style, that's why people love watching him. If the knockout comes, that'll be great but he'll be ready and well conditioned."