Former featherweight world champion, Lee Selby, matched his hyped bare-knuckle debut with a blistering performance against Antonio Rizzo on Saturday.

The 39-year-old made the trending transition to bare knuckle boxing on Saturday, and made a statement to his division by dispatching his opponent in two rounds.

His hand-speed reflected that of a boxer who felt the weight disparity between 10oz professional boxing gloves and just hand wraps as he lit up Rizzo with fast combinations quickly, dropping him at the end of the opening round.

It was clear that Selby had retained his killer instinct from his professional boxing career, despite four years out of action he didn’t miss a beat, advancing on Rizzo and dropping him twice before a disguised left to the liver put him away for good.

After the fight Selby said: “Like NWA said, I’ve got an appetite for destruction,

“It felt amazing, and don’t forget, I’m almost 40 years of age. Rizzo is almost half my age; he could be my son. So, I’m doing it for the 40-year-olds, the 40 club.”

On wanting a potential world title fight Selby said: “Yes, I do,

“I want to avenge my good friend and sparring partner, Kallum Shkane and the loss when he fought for the world title.

“I thought he was very unlucky to get stopped just before the bell when I thought he was winning on points.”

Other Welsh fighters scored victories on the undercard, Iestyn Edwards in particular, brother of professional featherweight Rhys Edwards.

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