by Michael Pearlman

LEE Selby becoming a world champion will provide the people of Barry - and his club in Newport - with a massive boost.

Crowds turned out in force on Saturday to see him train in the middle of the town in King Square in a mock up boxing ring.

The popular fighter was happy to pose with his Barry fans as he prepares to become the IBF featherweight champion of the world when he challenges Evgeny Gradovich on Saturday, May 30 at London’s sold-out 02 Arena.

Selby now stands on the precipice of boxing stardom, with the man dubbed the Welsh Mayweather targeting the unification of the featherweight division.

Selby has been adopted by the people of Newport too as he is the jewel in the crown at St Joes Boxing Cub in Newport where its head trainer Tony Borg explained what impact Selby’s success has had so far.

“We aren’t a valleys gym, we are based right in the centre of Newport and Selby has made a big impact in this city,” he said.

“We have local builders and shop workers coming in to ask us what time he’s sparring and we generally always have a big audience.

“When Selby spars with Gary (Buckland, stablemate) it is standing room only in the gym, it becomes absolutely packed everyone wants to watch them. They have absolute wars.”

Borg feels like Selby can create a legacy for himself and the gym.

“I think he can win the world title and unify the division, he’ll put Wales on the map, he is the best fighter Wales has produced for a long time,” he said.

“He’s a well rounded person, he knows he’ll be a world champion, but he’s stayed humble and down to earth.

“There is an aura about him in the gym now, all the boys look up to him and he’s applied himself so much, he deserves his recognition.

“We’ve got a great coaching team here and over the years we’ve built it up and up.

“We’ve had our fighters at the last four Commonwealth Games, we’ve had two European gold, three Commonwealth medals, Fred won the Olympic silver, the first Welshman ever to do so and with the pros we’ve had two British titles, a Commonwealth and a European title and now it’s hopefully Lee Selby winning a world title.

Selby admits he feels a responsibility to his supporters.

“When I turned pro I could barely sell tickets at the Newport Centre,” he said.

“Now I’ve sold all my tickets for a London show. I’ve got five coach loads coming to watch me win a world title.

“You don’t want to let those people down. I know all the kids in the gym look up to me and I embrace it. I haven’t changed. I’m the same guy I always was. But I want to be a world champion.”

Selby's opponent Evgeny Gradovich received a timely boost ahead of the World title defence on Saturday night live on Sky Sports Box Office as the IBF named him their boxer of the year.

The Russian Featherweight king defends his belt for the fifth time against St Joes boxer Selby and picked up the award thanks to a successful run of defences since taking the title from Billy Dib in March 2013, seeing off Mauricio Munoz, Dib in a rematch and Alexander Miskirtchian before a split draw in November against Jayson Velez.

Gradovich will be wary of the threat posed by the confident Welshman who has vowed to bring his best to London in his first World title fight, but the 28 year old visiting champ insists he is not concerned by the challenge posed by ‘The Welsh Mayweather’.

“He'll want to be at his best because he's the home fighter but for me it doesn't matter where I fight because I am the champion,” said Gradovich. “It's a good opportunity for me to box in England for the first time and I am really looking forward to the challenge.

“I am not going to let him take the title from me. I worked too hard to get it and even harder to keep it. I love being the World champion, it’s the best feeling in the world and I want to keep that feeling going. Boxing is my passion, I love every bit of it, and boxing at the elite level like I do is like nothing else, it's just my favourite thing to do."

Gradovich’s defence against Selby is one of three World title fights on a massive night of action as Kell Brook defends his IBF World Welterweight title against Frankie Gavin and Kevin Mitchell challenges Jorge Linares for the WBC Lightweight title.

John Ryder faces Nick Blackwell for the vacant British Middleweight title, Scotty Cardle and Craig Evans clash for the vacant British Lightweight title and Dave Ryan defends his Commonwealth Light Welterweight strap against John Wayne Hibbert. Former World champion Nathan Cleverly is in action and Lucien Reid makes his pro debut.

Limited tickets remain on sale for the bumper night of boxing at The O2 priced at £40 and £60 from www.theO2.co.uk and on 0844 856 0202.