Joe Selkirk Continues His March, Hopes To Stay Busy
By Terence Dooley
Joe Selkirk put an injury and inactivity ravaged twelve months behind him last night when posting a fifth round TKO of Ryan Toms on a Vaughan Promotions bill at Liverpool’s packed Olympia venue. Selkirk had one outing in 2011, a single round stoppage of Terry Carruthers in July, but hopes to stay busy this year.
Selkirk (156½lbs) looked rusty in the early sessions of the scheduled eight-threes contest. Toms (also 156½lbs) suffered a stunning first round KO reverse to Steve O’Meara in September but bounced back with a draw against Nathan Weise last time out. Selkirk, who holds a decision win over O’Meara, came out looking to replicate O’Meara’s result only to fall short on his punches.
Indeed, fighters who have recently suffered big KO defeats tend to bite down in subsequent fights to avoid replicating the result. Toms was clearly concentrating on ensuring that he did not repeat the mistakes made in the O’Meara contest. It led to a frustrating few rounds for Selkirk; the 2007 ABA titlist took a few right hands himself and looked for the perfect shot once too often.
Toms, now 9-2-1 (4), suffered a badly swollen right eye, as time ticked on it became clear that he was struggling to see. It came as no surprise when he was pulled out of the fight at 2:11 of the fifth after a corner inspection. Ever the perfectionist, Selkirk was disappointed not to have ended matters earlier but believes that the best is yet to come as long as he stays active.
“I am glad to get back but felt terrible for the first two rounds – I kept missing,” said the 26-year-old, who moves to 8-0 (5). “I was only out once last year and had injuries so hope to be busier this year. Once I’ve got a few fights under my belt you’ll see me perform. I’ve spoke to [promoter] Frank [Warren] and he said I’ll be busy this year so I’ll get a few under my belt and perform better.
“Toms was awkward, it was hard to get the range but as the fight went on I got to him more and think I’d have stopped him even without the eye injury. I caught him with a left hook and uppercut and felt him go a bit.
“I saw the right hands coming but couldn’t get out the way of them so I just need to iron a few things out. I’ve only been with [new trainer] Oliver [Harrison] for a bit so we can work things out the more I’m with him.”
Selkirk used to be guided by Georgie and Danny Vaughan only to find himself looking for a new training base after Georgie retired from the sport. Step forward Oliver Harrison, the quiet Salfordian has been working with Selkirk for the past month. Joe feels that the two will gel and still has a huge amount of respect for his former coaches.
“I owe a lot to Georgie, inside and outside the ring he did a lot for me – I wouldn’t have kept myself in the sport if it wasn’t for him,” revealed Selkirk. “I’m so thankful to George and Danny. Tony Dodson and Tony Bellew both recommended Oliver. We’ve not had long to work together but I’ll keep improving under him.”
FWP matchmaker Dean Powell believes that Selkirk’s ability and natural talent will come to the fore during the coming years. “We want to get him out straight away,” stated Powell.
“Once he got into the fight he let his hands go and started moving after trying to rush into it. When his confidence is high no one will beat him. He just needs that confidence in himself.”
Tony Bellew certainly agrees, the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion’s summation of Selkirk’s future was short and to the point. “He’s going to be great,” bellowed Bellew. “A future superstar!”
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