ANDREW Selby drew praise from American superstar Andre Ward after another boxing masterclass gave him a third title in only his eighth professional fight.

Unbeaten WBO, IBF and undisputed WBA world light-heavyweight champion Ward reckons Selby has a “long and illustrious” career ahead of him if he keeps performing like he is.

Ward’s comments came following Selby’s dethroning of WBC international flyweight belt holder Ardin Diale in London on Saturday night.

The undefeated 28-year-old Welshman, trained by Tony Borg at St Joseph’s in Newport, couldn’t end the contest inside the distance but all three ringside judges scored it 100-90 in his favour.

Experienced Filipino Diale, who challenged for a world title in 2011, was expected to be a real step up in class for Selby, but the Barry boxer made light work of his opponent.

Straight right hands in the second and fourth rounds buckled the knees of Diale, a four-punch combination had his rival reeling in the seventh, while Selby came close to ending it in the next.

He may not have got the stoppage but there was never any doubting the result when the decision went to the scorecards.

Selby only turned professional in 2015 but has now claimed British, IBF inter-continental and WBC international straps – and he can go a lot further in Ward’s eyes.

“I love seeing a fighter who is a master of what he does,” the 32-year-old told ITV after the fight at Olympia.

“If he continues like that, he is going to have a long and illustrious career. He makes it look easy.”

Selby, who had met Ward and Lennox Lewis before the bout, added: “The plan was not to take him out, I had to box.

“The plan was to hit and move. It was strictly about winning the belt. I did move a lot.

“My aim was to get the win. I want to have a long career.”

The Welshman, whose IBF world featherweight champion brother Lee was back from Las Vegas to support his younger sibling, has stated that he wants a world title shot this year.

Meanwhile, Blackwood's amateur heavyweight star Kody Davies will compete for the British Lionhearts in the World Series of Boxing in 2017.