WELSH amateur star Andrew Selby enjoyed a comfortable victory over Italian professional Daniele Limone at the Celtic Manor tonight.

He was representing the British Lionhearts team in their World Series of Boxing match against Italia Thunder and won on points thanks to a unanimous verdict from the judges.

The event, which started in 2010, sees amateur and professional boxers with less than 15 bouts compete without vests and headguards over five three-minute rounds.

Selby, the 2011 World Championship silver medallist and reigning European champion, put a disappointing Olympics behind him having moved up from flyweight to bantamweight and he enjoyed fighting in front of a passionate home crowd.

“I’m pleased to get the win,” said Selby. “I haven’t boxed since the Olympics so it was quite hard to start off with but from the third round on my punches were landing. It was hard being at home because the crowd were loud and cheering for me and you have to concentrate but the support made me box better.

“It’s a good venue and I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to my next fight in London.

“Without the headguard it was much easier to see shots coming at you but you’ve got to watch you don’t bump heads. I wasn’t tired, I was faster than the Italian and that was to my advantage,” he added.

“I like the amateur style but it’s good to get the opportunity to box top-class pros as well.”

In the first fight of the evening British heavyweight Joe Joyce beat Matteo Modugno, another pro, after the Italian received a bad cut in the fourth round and the contest was stopped.