39-Year-Old Lee Selby Made A Multi-Fight Bareknuckle Move That The Boxing World Is Still Talking About

Alright, listen up, because this one's wild. You know Lee Selby, right? Former IBF featherweight world champ, defended his title four times? The guy who retired in 2022? Well, he's back in the ring, but not how you'd expect. 'Lightning' Lee Selby, at 39 years old, has signed a multi-fight deal to compete in *bareknuckle boxing*. Yeah, you heard me. Bareknuckle. This isn't just a comeback, it's a jaw-dropping leap into one of the most brutal sports out there, and the reason he's doing it is pure prizefighting logic.

The Money Talked, And It Talked LOUD

Selby didn't sugarcoat it. He was offered a "great amount of money," turned it down. Then they offered more, he said no again. But BKB, the promoters, kept pushing, and finally, they hit a number that made him say yes. "I'm a prizefighter. I've fought my whole life. The prize is money. If the money's right, I'll fight," he told BBC Sport Wales. It's that simple, folks. This isn't a charity match; it's about making a living, and for Selby, the bareknuckle world put up enough cash to lure a legitimate world champion out of retirement. His brother, Andrew Selby, a former British flyweight champ, also secured a multi-fight agreement with the sport. BKB even snagged him for a four-fight deal, aiming to go mainstream by leaning on guys like Selby. Other big names have done it too, like IBF super-middleweight champ James de Gale and even former WBC welterweight champ Victor

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Ortiz. Selby's debut is set for June 26 in Cardiff against Italy's Antonio Rizzo. Seriously, mark your calendars.

More Than Just The Cash? You Bet.

Now, Selby initially said it wasn't *all* about the money, which, okay, after his other quotes, seems a little hard to believe. But he cleared up rumors floating around his hometown about him spending all his cash, clarifying he "invested well" and has properties. He's a guy who came from "council house family on benefits and food banks," so when money is on the table, it's hard to turn down. "Because fighting's in me," he said. That's the real fire, isn't it? He's a fighter to his core. Since retiring in 2022 after losses to George Kambosos Jr. and Daniel Lemos, he admitted to losing a little "purpose" in his life, just "being a normal civilian." Bareknuckle boxing, despite being called "irresponsible" by the brain injury charity Headway and "a little bit barbaric" by promoter Eddie Hearn, is growing. BKB's chief executive David Tetreault called Selby's signing a "game-changer," banking on the credibility of a guy who defended his IBF title four times before that brutal defeat to Josh Warrington in 2018. So, on June 26, Lee Selby steps into the Trigon for his first bareknuckle bout. This isn't just a fight; it's a statement about a fighter's will, the allure of the prize, and the wild, growing world of bareknuckle boxing trying to hit the big time. You've gotta watch this one. What do you think, Seattle? Is Selby crazy, or is he just a prizefighter doing what prizefighters do?

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.