A WORLD title shot is within touching distance for St Joseph’s star Lee Selby but he knows that Romulo Koasicha will be no pushover tonight, writes Andrew Penman.

Selby tops the bill at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena in a WBC featherweight world title eliminator against the tricky Mexican.

A crack at the WBC belt next year would be a dream come true for the Barry boxer.

But the 27-year-old, who trains with Tony Borg at St Joes in Newport, is taking nothing for granted.

“It’s a massive night and a big opportunity for me,” he said. “It’s a WBC eliminator against a guy who is ranked number four so it’s going to be a proper fight.

“On paper it shouldn’t be my toughest fight so far but I think it could be because he hasn’t come all this way to fall over.

“I’m within touching distance of fighting for a world title and that’s what I’ve been doing this for since I started boxing at the age of eight.

“It’s what I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid.

“It was only a couple of years ago that I was boxing in front of a few hundred people at the Pill Millennium Centre and now I’m selling out arenas,” he added.

“But I wouldn’t say I’m inpatient for the next year. I do want it all to happen just so I know it’s real but I’m in no rush. I still feel young and I’ve got plenty of time.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn says Selby could be in line for a clash with Filipino star Nonito Donaire but he wants his man to be tested tonight.

“He’s in position for a world title,” said Hearn. “The WBC have welcomed us with open arms and we’ve talked to Top Rank about the Donaire fight, which would be a huge fight.

“If I can bring someone here, a top name, I think we can do something big with Selby.

“If he can fight a final eliminator in September and then in May we get something outdoors in Cardiff we might be able to sell 10,000 or 15,000 tickets.

“He has ambitions but he’s got to keep winning and keep looking good.

“I want this guy to put lots of pressure on him. He’s a typical Mexican fighter and I always want the opponent to really put it on our guys because you’ve got to find out how good they are.”