Former IBF featherweight boxing champion Lee Selby has detailed the motivations behind his surprising shift to bareknuckle boxing. The Welsh fighter, who achieved significant success in traditional boxing, has explained the distinct appeal and strategic considerations that led him to this less conventional discipline.
Selby’s decision stems from a desire for a different kind of challenge and a return to the raw, fundamental aspects of fighting. He highlights that bareknuckle boxing, while seemingly more brutal, offers a unique set of skills and a different tactical approach compared to gloved boxing. The absence of gloves, he suggests, alters the dynamics of power, defense, and the overall pace of a fight.
Furthermore, the former world champion has expressed an appreciation for the straightforward nature of bareknuckle bouts. He finds a certain purity in the sport, where technique and resilience are tested in a more direct and unadorned fashion. This move is not necessarily a repudiation of his previous career but rather an exploration of a different facet of combat sports that resonates with him at this stage of his journey.