IBF featherweight titleholder Lee Selby (23-1, 8 KOs) has just been added to the Jan. 28th Carl Frampton vs Leo Santa Cruz card where he’ll be making a mandatory title defense against former champion Jonathan Barros (41-4-1, 22 KOs).
“My mandatory challenger is experienced, dangerous, and I will not take him lightly,” Selby said. “I’ve had a strong training camp and I am 100 percent focused on putting on a show for the American fans and the traveling fans from the U.K. My No. 1 objective is to bring my world title back to Wales.”
With this addition the Frampton-Santa Cruz card will now feature three world title fights, which includes the headliner as well as a lightweight title fight between Dejan Zlaticanin and Mikey Garcia.
Selby won the IBF title by beating Evgeny Gradovich in mid-2015 and has since made two successful defenses against Fernando Montiel and Eric Hunter.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s Jonathan Barros earned his mandatory challenger position by beating Satoshi Hosono in an eliminator bout held in Tokyo this past October. Barros says he thrilled to have the chance to fight for a world title again:
“I’m very excited for this opportunity to compete for another world title in Las Vegas,” Barros said. “I have worked hard to put myself in this position and I am going to make the most of it. Selby has never faced anyone as dangerous as me and I plan on making it a long night for him. I am going to become another Argentine world champion and bring the title back to my country.”
For a late addition to a card that takes place in just a couple of weeks, this isn’t too bad at all.
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