DAZZLING, stunning, spectacular, fantastic, we are fast running out of superlatives to use about Lee Selby’s IBF featherweight world title win over Evgeny Gradovich as London’s O2 Arena.

On a night where British boxing received a huge shot in the arm with the best domestic card in ions – the best this reporter has seen since Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler headlined the Millennium Stadium in 2007 – Selby was the star turn, his class and quality turning what was billed as exceptionally tough test into nothing short of a procession.

Forget the fact that the record books will read that Selby won via a cut from an accidental clash of heads, that the ringside doctor deemed Gradovich in no state to continue as we went to the judges’ card. That doesn’t tell the story.

Because it was Gradovich who was positively rescued in this situation, a late and entirely unpredicted – other than by Selby himself and his St Joseph’s team – stoppage was absolutely on the cards as Selby produced the best performance of his career.

When ringside pundits the calibre of Mike Costello and Steve Bunce are questioning whether it was the most impressive debut of all-time at world level from a British fighter – neither journalist is associated with Matchroom, the promoters – you get a real sense of just how spectacularly Newport’s adopted son from Barry was.

Punch perfect, or as close as is possible, Selby showed his classy speed, footwork and masterful defence as he ground Gradovich into dust.

Remember, this was the IBF fighter of the year, not simply some lame duck alphabet world champion. Selby was his fifth world title defence. The man they call the Mexican Russian making no concession whatsoever to the atmosphere, situation or opponent, he fought as he always does. Relentlessly, and on the front foot.

Gradovich was coming at Selby from the first bell to the last, trying to force the pace and overwhelm his foe. It never looked like working.

Even after Selby had easily taken the first three sessions, as the predominantly London crowd bellowed “Selby, Selby, Selby,” as if he was a hometown hero from Canning Town or Greenwich itself, Gradovich walked back to his corner smiling and content.

He’d wear Selby down, there was no chance a kid who has never been at this level could maintain this, surely?

And while Gradovich may have taken heart from a fourth session he possibly shared, his smile had quickly been replaced by a look of utter bewilderment. Selby wasn’t going anywhere.

In fact, and just as in previous so-called defining nights for Selby, he began to improve still in the middle rounds, easing into the contest enough to set his feet and start hitting hard. Really hard.

Selby was so on his toes in the first few sessions you got the impression it was all just feeling out Gradovich, but once he started planting and really landing, the damage to the face of the Russian was more and more concerning.

The 28-year old, suffered defeat to unknown Samir Mouneimne in his fifth paid bout – back in the days he struggled to sell out a mini-van to come and watch him fight at Newport Leisure Centre - but rebuilt to amass a record of 20-1, with eight stoppages, going into this contest. The manner his career has been shaped and paced by manager Chris Sanigar is nothing short of exceptional, and a real lesson on how to correctly pace opportunities.

Selby was growing and growing as the come forward fighter began to wilt, a booming left hand in the sixth stanza finally hurting Gradovich, wobbling him to his boots.

A head clash caused a cut near Gradovich's right eye, and Selby subsequently went to town with his opponent hurt and dispirited.

Another counter left hook - and consistent jabs - opened up the cut further and when referee Deon Dwarte consulted the ringside doctor due to the bad bleeding, he didn’t give them permission to continue. The decision therefore went to the scorecards, where and Selby won comfortably 79-73, 80-72 and 79-73 to be crowned Wales' 12th world champion and third featherweight.

He was understandably jubilant when the Argus caught up with him post fight and dedicated his victory to elder brother Michael, the man who introduced him to the sport. He died in an accident seven years ago, aged just 23.

“I can’t explain how I feel,” said Selby.

“I have been working for this for so long. I started boxing 20 years ago and had my first amateur fight 18 years ago. It means so much and I would like to dedicate this to my brother Michael who is always looking over me.

"When my brother passed away in 2008 that was the point I turned my life around.

"I turned professional I used to be up to no good before that to be honest.

"If I could do that anybody can do it.

"Since I've turned professional I've just stayed at home, just being a family guy and it's paid off massively.

“When I go into a fight I go it to adapt.

“In for the first round I go behind the jab, see what they come with and I have that style where I can adapt.

“If I have to go forward I go forward or I can box on the back foot. I see what they come with, I listen to my corner and I box to my instructions.

“I caught him and I wobbled him. I didn’t bother following up, I was going to break him down.

“He is a similar fighter to my last opponent Joel Brunker so I was planning on breaking him down but we had two accidental clashes of heads and that stopped the fight.”