THE man standing between Lee Selby and a potentially lucrative clash with Carl Frampton has vowed to make it a “long night” for the Welshman when they meet in Las Vegas later this month.

Jonathan Victor Barros is the IBF’s mandatory challenger for Selby’s world featherweight crown, and the Argentinean is intent on taking the Barry boxer’s belt back to his South American homeland.

Meanwhile, St Joseph’s ace Selby has his eyes set on making a third successful defence of his title at the MGM Grand on January 28, and then a huge all-British showdown against Frampton.

Northern Ireland’s Frampton, the WBA super world featherweight champion, tops the Vegas bill when he goes into battle with Mexico’s Leo Santa Cruz for a second time – Frampton won the first meeting last July.

It is anticipated that if Selby and Frampton both win then a bout between the two will follow later this year.

But Barros has other ideas, stating: “I have worked hard to put myself in this position and I am going to make the most of it.

“Selby has never faced anyone as dangerous as me and I plan on making it a long night for him.

“I am going to become another Argentine world champion and bring the title back to my country.”

Selby, 29, added: “It’s been a dream of mine since I was a young kid to box in a world title fight in Las Vegas, the mecca of boxing.

“I’ve seen UK fighters like Lennox Lewis, Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe and Amir Khan box in Las Vegas and I always knew that’s where I wanted to fight.

“My mandatory challenger is experienced, dangerous and I will not take him lightly.

“I’ve had a strong training camp and I am 100% focused on putting on a show for the American fans and the travelling fans from the UK.”

He continued: “I can’t wait to get in there again. I’ve been expecting it since before Christmas and for some reason they’ve left it until the last minute but I don’t know why and I don’t care, the main thing is I am on it.

“It is one hell of a card but winning will set up a big fight between me and Frampton – that’s the one Britain wants to see next.

“But there’s me defending my world title against a former world champion and Mikey Garcia taking on (Dejan) Zlaticanin, which will be a great fight.”

It will be the first time Selby has fought in the famed American city and he is looking to make an impression against Barros, a former titlist at 126lbs.

Barros, 32, who has won 41 of his 46 contests, was last in action in October when outpointing Japan’s Satoshi Hosono in Tokyo.