LEE Selby heads Stateside this weekend having left no stone unturned in his preparations for what he hopes will be a third successful defence of his IBF world featherweight crown.

The St Joseph’s star flies out to California with manager Jamie Sanigar and trainer Tony Borg a fortnight before he faces Argentina’s Jonathan Victor Barros at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Selby will spend next week training at Maywood Boxing Club and The Rock gym on the West Coast, then he is expected to wind down his build-up at the Pound 4 Pound gym in Nevada.

More Team Selby connections will make the trip to the US in time for the clash, although Selby’s younger brother Andrew won’t be among them.

It is understood that the British and IBF Inter-Continental flyweight king is getting ready for his next bout, which should be announced very soon.

Members of the media were invited to St Joes in Newport today to get a last look at the older of the Selby siblings being put through his paces by Borg before he leaves for the bout.

“I’m always in good shape,” said Selby after his training session. “I’ve been in the gym since last May so if I’m not in good shape now I never will be.

“I’ve been keeping active, travelling the country to spar, and I went out to Fuerteventura in Spain to train as well.

“I sparred with Kid Galahad and Jordan Gill out there, and when I came back I went up to Sheffield for two weeks of sparring.”

He went on to add: “My preparations are right on track, my weight is good and sparring has gone well – it’s the same for every fight.

“We fly out this weekend and I’ll have a week sharpening up on the pads.

“Because I’ve been away sparring I’ve missed the pad work with Tony, so I’ll have a week on the pads then I’ll have a week easing down and making weight.”

Selby isn’t a stranger to the bright lights of Las Vegas. The 29-year-old has been to the MGM Grand before to watch pound-for-pound legend Floyd Mayweather in action.

Topping the bill on January 28 is the rematch between Northern Ireland’s Carl Frampton and Mexican Leo Santa Cruz.

If Frampton beats Santa Cruz, like he did last July, and Selby overcomes Barros, there could well be a huge British showdown later this year.