• London Olympics 2012

Selby one win away from London 2012

ESPN staff
November 11, 2011
Andrew Selby is one win away from London 2012 © Getty Images
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British boxer Andrew Selby took a step closer to London 2012 after winning the opening bout of his Olympic 'box-off' with fellow contender Khalid Yafai.

European amateur flyweight champion Selby and Yafai both achieved the qualifying standard for 2012 at the recent World Championships in Azerbaijan, but with only one place available in the British team, a best-of-three contest will determine who will be picked to represent Team GB next summer.

Yafai had won both the pair's previous meetings, but Selby beat his friend and sometime sparring partner comfortably by a score of 26-12. Selby started the brighter, sending his opponent stumbling to the canvas, and although Yafai rallied to end the opening round on a high, he ultimately could not cope with Selby's speed.

"I thought I'd hurt him and I was trying to load up on him and I thought I had him but he came back at me and hit me on the head - it was the hardest punch I've ever taken," Selby said of the opening round.

"I had to hit and move, just keeping hitting and moving - that was the game plan and it worked. I just have to do the same again, he might have a different game plan but hopefully mine will work again. It has made me much more confident."

Yafai will hope he can turn the result around to level the scores on Saturday night at London's York Hall. If he can force the bout to a decider, it will be held at London's ExCeL Arena as part of the Olympic test event later this month.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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