LEE SELBY becoming a world champion will provide the people of Newport their biggest boost since the Exiles were promoted to the Football League, according to St Joseph’s head trainer Tony Borg.

Barry-born Selby challenges Evgeny Gradovich on Saturday, May 30 at London’s sold-out 02 Arena, bidding to become the IBF featherweight champion of the world.

A prospect in St Joes since he was a kid, Selby now stands on the precipice of boxing stardom, with the man dubbed the Welsh Mayweather targeting the unification of the featherweight division.

Selby is the jewel in the crown at St Joes and Borg explained in an exclusive interview with Argus Sport exactly what impact Selby’s success has had.

“We aren’t a valleys gym, we are based right in the centre of Newport and Selby had made a big impact in this city,” he said.

“We have local builders and shop workers coming in to ask us what time he’s sparring and we generally always have a big audience.

“When Selby spars with Gary (Buckland, stablemate) it is standing room only in the gym, it becomes absolutely packed everyone wants to watch them. They have absolute wars.”

Borg feels like Selby can create a legacy for himself and the gym.

“I think he can win the world title and unify the division, he’ll put Wales on the map and Newport, he is the best fighter Wales has produced for a long time,” he said.

“He’s a well rounded person, he knows he’ll be a world champion, but he’s stayed humble and down to earth.

“There is an aura about him in the gym now, all the boys look up to him and he’s applied himself so much, he deserves his recognition.

“We will be the best thing to happen to the city since the County went up, it’s going to be massive for us.

“We’ve got a great coaching team here and over the years we’ve built it up and up.

“We’ve had our fighters at the last four Commonwealth Games, we’ve had two European gold, three Commonwealth medals, Fred won the Olympic silver, the first Welshman ever to do so and with the pros we’ve had two British titles, a Commonwealth and a European title and now it’s hopefully Lee Selby winning a world title.

“It’s huge for us and for Newport.”

Selby admits he feels a responsibility to his supporters.

“When I turned pro I could barely sell tickets at the Newport Centre,” he said.

“Now I’ve sold all my tickets for a London show. I’ve got five coach loads coming to watch me win a world title.

“You don’t want to let those people down. I know all the kids in the gym look up to me and I embrace it. I haven’t changed. I’m the same guy I always was. But I want to be a world champion.”