ST JOSEPH’S star Andrew Selby will use the pain of missing out at Delhi 2010 and London 2012 as he goes for gold at Glasgow 2014, writes Andrew Penman.
The 25-year-old Barry boxer, who trains with Tony Borg in Newport when he’s not with Team GB in Sheffield, is ranked number one by the AIBA at 52kg.
He is a two-time European champion and has silver and bronze medals from the world championships but success on the biggest stage has so far eluded him.
At the Commonwealth Games four years ago in India he was controversially beaten on countback by bitter rival Haroon Khan – the younger brother of Amir Khan.
And at the London Olympics Selby, the younger brother of WBC international featherweight champion Lee Selby, was beaten in the quarter-finals by Cuban Robeisy Ramirez Carranza.
But he is resisting the lure of joining his brother in the pro ranks and is targeting gold in Glasgow next month and at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“I lost on countback four years ago and I want to set the record straight this time,” said Selby.
“I’m ranked number one in the world and I’m going for that gold medal.
“Delhi and London were disappointments for me and that will be motivation for me.
“In 2010 I lost to Haroon Khan even though everyone thought I won the fight.
“I don’t know why they gave it to him, maybe because of who his brother is, but I just want to get into the final this time and be recognised.
“I’ve achieved so much in boxing but not at the Commonwealths or the Olympics so I want people to know who I am.”
And Selby believes the Commonwealths, which get under way on July 23, will be every bit as good as London 2012.
“There’s not much difference between this and the Olympics,” he said. “It will be all over the TV and people will be supporting me. It will be great.
“It should be a great atmosphere up there. London was incredible. The crowd noise was like being hit in the face by a massive speaker and hopefully it will be the same in Scotland.
“And this is the strongest squad we’ve ever had,” he added. “Most of us have won medals and I don’t see why we can’t do the same in Glasgow.”
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