ANDREW Selby is now within touching distance of a world title – but the St Joseph’s star has no intention of challenging WBC flyweight king Daigo Higa in the Japanese fighter’s own backyard.

The Welshman set himself up for a crack at unbeaten Higa with a points win over Nicaragua’s Cristofer Rosales on Friday night, despite being floored inside the opening 60 seconds.

A stunned Motorpoint Arena crowd almost couldn’t believe it when Rosales caught Selby with a right hand that forced him to a take a count from referee Victor Loughlin.

Selby, however, showed maturity and remained focused after suffering the first knockdown of his professional career to seal a ninth straight victory in the paid ranks.

Judges Kevin Scott and Ian John-Lewis both scored the bout 117-110 in favour of the 28-year-old from Barry, while Alexander Kalinkin had it 118-109 to Selby.

Speaking after the contest, Selby made something of a surprise admission concerning his passion for the sport, before commenting on the prospect of a showdown with Higa.

“I don't learn moves in the ring, it just comes naturally,” said Selby. “To be honest, I don't really like boxing. Imagine if I liked it how good I’d be.

“Who likes getting punched in the face? I don't. I just like the cheques.

“I want to make money in life, so that is why I do boxing.

“I’ve got a good chance, I’m going to fight for the world title now.

“I don’t want to travel to Japan because I will have lost when I get on the plane, the judging is quite unfair.

“He’s (Higa) a very, very big puncher so I’d have to work on my defence and try and outbox him for 12 rounds.”

Despite the margin of defeat, Rosales was definitely Selby’s toughest opponent to date, putting the home favourite under real pressure in the first two rounds.

Reflecting on the punch that sent him to the canvas, and the fight in general, Selby said: “I didn’t feel it.

"Respect to him, he was a very big puncher, but that first punch that knocked me down, I didn’t even know I’d got hit.

“It didn’t hurt me but I’ve watched boxing and you always get up on eight, even if you’re not hurt.

“You take your time, and I took my time, then I had to adapt to his big, solid punches and hit him quickly and try and move.

“I had blisters on my feet but I kept to the game plan and it paid off.

“I thought it was a really hard fight when I was in there but, watching it back, he caught me with two big punches in the first round but the other rounds I dominated him.

“He is a big puncher and I’ve got to learn to keep my hands up more, but when I had my hands down he didn’t know what to do.

“I’m good at slipping punches and I was trying to catch him as he was rushing in, which I did.

“He just didn’t catch me really flush, if he did he could have hurt me, but he didn’t.

“I’m happy with my performance, I’ve just got to go back to the gym and work on my defence a little bit more.”