Lee Selby To Return On Haye-Bellew, Will Face Andoni Gago

By Elliot Foster

Lee Selby has had his ring return confirmed.

The IBF featherweight champion has had rotten luck so far this year after his US debut was canned at the 11th hour.

Selby (23-1, 8 KOs) had been set to make the third defence of his crown against Jonathan Victor Barros, his mandatory, on January 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

But the clash, which was set to be aired on Showtime in the States as part of the supporting cast to Carl Frampton’s defeat at the hands of Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA ‘Super’ featherweight world title, had to be scrapped after Barros (41-4-1, 22 KOs) failed the medical tests to be granted a license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

As a result, the IBF allowed the Welshman, 30, to have a non-title fight.

Boxing Scene reported last Friday (February 17) that the clash would likely take place on March 4, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office at the O2 Arena in London, as part of the undercard to David Haye’s heavyweight showdown against Tony Bellew.

And that was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.

Selby will face Spain’s Andoni Gago (16-2-2, 5 KOs) over 10 rounds at a catchweight of 129 pounds.

Gago, who lost a challenge for the IBF Inter-Continental featherweight title against Viorel Simion last October, was last in action over eight rounds earlier this month.

Haye’s mouth-watering showdown against Bellew is flanked by a stellar supporting cast.

Bellew’s fellow Liverpudlian Derry Mathews takes on undefeated Ohara Davies in a challenge for the Hackney man’s WBC Silver super-lightweight title as part of the card which also features undefeated cruiserweight Craig Glover.

Elsewhere, Sam Eggington faces ex-two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi in a defence of his WBC International welterweight title on the card and there is action for Ted Cheeseman and undefeated Olympic champion Katie Taylor, with further additions expected in due course.