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It’s Wales v England on Saturday night, as Britain’s two best featherweights not named Carl Frampton meet for the IBF world title.

This should be a really close fight between two talented boxers who don’t like each other, but the market has current champion Selby as the favourite.

There’s a reason Selby’s nickname is ‘The Welsh Mayweather’. The 31-year-old is one of the most skilled fighters in Britain, with excellent footwork and handspeed making up for his lack of punching power.

He’s won 22 fights in a row since being beaten in a four-rounder back in 2009, and 17 of his 26 career victories have come by decision, including four of the last five.

Josh Warrington is arguably his most difficult opponent to date, though.

The Yorkshireman is unbeaten in 26 fights, having stopped Dennis Ceylan in 10 rounds last time out, and he earned the signature win of his career to date by beating Kiko Martinez by majority decision almost exactly a year ago.

Like Selby, Warrington isn’t much of a knockout artist. The 27-year-old has closed out just six of his 26 fights by stoppage, although the first 12 bouts of his career were four- or six-rounders that went the distance.

Warrington likes to move in and out of range and will push the pressure on Saturday night, and he’s bound to be given a bit of a boost from being in his hometown.

It will be difficult for him to take Selby out of his rhythm, though, and the 31-year-old’s class should become very clear in this fight.

The champion from Barry is a proven world-level fighter at this point with four successive world title defences, while Warrington has never been in a bout of this size before.

Expect Selby to control the action with his jab and movement and take a close decision after 12 rounds.

Selby to win by decision
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