ANDREW Selby’s hopes of landing a world title shot suffered a setback in Mexico on Saturday night following the first defeat of his professional career.

The St Joseph’s ace (11-1) was ahead on the judges’ scorecards in a final eliminator for the WBC world flyweight crown against Julio Cesar Martinez Aguilar before being undone by a fierce body shot in the fifth round.

Victory for Mexican Aguilar (14-1) means he is now the mandatory challenger to champion Charlie Edwards, who defended his belt for the first time in London just hours earlier.

Selby, 30, had travelled to the Centro de Espectáculos del Recinto Ferial in Metepec full of confidence that he could maintain his unblemished record in the paid ranks.

Trainer Tony Borg didn’t believe there was anything Aguilar possessed to trouble his boxer, although both coach and fighter knew they couldn’t leave anything to chance in the Mexican’s back yard.

However, despite impressing in the early rounds as the two men went toe-to-toe, Selby took a left hook to the ribs 57 seconds into the fifth that proved fatal.

Barry’s Selby dropped to all fours after having the wind taken out of him, before taking the count from Panama referee Hector Afu on one knee.

Selby rose to his feet just as the official waved the fight off, giving Aguilar, 24, the 11th stoppage win of his career.

It remains to be seen where Selby goes from here, but it is widely felt that he is too good not to challenge for a world title one day.

Defeat on the road may have temporarily derailed his bid for global glory, however, if he can stay focused on the task at hand then the Welshman is more than likely to get his shot before too long.

As for Edwards, who Selby beat when the pair were amateurs, he wants to "build a legacy" after successfully defending his strap by outclassing Moreno at the Copper Box Arena.

The 26-year-old Englishman produced his finest performance to date to win all 12 rounds on each of the three ringside judges' scorecards, earning a unanimous decision via scores of 120-107.

Edwards, who fought with such confidence he even indulged in some showboating, said: "I want to build a legacy for the British boxing fans. Whoever is next I'm ready. I want to unify, and I want to build a legacy.

"I'm obsessed with this game. I'm obsessed with bettering myself day in, day out. I like to prove everyone wrong. This is a dream come true.”

Meanwhile, on the same bill, Newport bantamweight Sean McGoldrick (below, left) won his first fight under new trainer Jamie Moore.

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The former Commonwealth Games gold medallist, previously coached by Borg in his hometown, took his perfect record to 8-0 with a 59-56 points triumph over Liverpool’s Sean Cairns.