WHILE Brits Joe and Jake were sliding to 24th place in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night Andrew Selby was hitting all the right notes at Cardiff’s new Ice Arena Wales.

The St Joseph’s star made Welsh boxing history by winning a British title in only his fifth professional fight, just seven months after making his debut at the Newport Centre last October.

A unanimous points victory over Englishman Louis Norman saw the Barry boy claim the vacant British flyweight crown and confirm his position as Welsh boxing’s next leading man.

With older brother Lee already a world champion the younger Selby has a lot to live up to but his progress so far has made for dizzying viewing.

Lee Selby, who won the IBF world featherweight title against Evgeny Gradovich just under a year ago, took 12 fights and more than three years to win a Lonsdale belt.

And in his fifth pro bout Lee recorded his only defeat to date – a points loss over four rounds to Samir Mouneimne at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke on Trent in May 2009.

Lee was 22 then and had time on his side, while Andrew and his management have so far wasted no time in fast-tracking the 27-year-old to the top.

And on Saturday night Channel Five pundits Carl Frampton and Barry McGuigan, whose Cyclone Promotions put on the Cardiff bill, were predicting that Andrew would be a multiple world champion.

Having witnessed his amateur exploits and his pro debut it’s clear that Selby junior is a talented fighter with a welcome crowd-pleasing streak.

But the temptation to rush him to world title level before he is ready must be resisted.

It was good to hear Selby say as much after his 119-110, 120-109, 120-109 victory in Cardiff.

“I want to be a world champion but there is no rush,” he told the Argus. “I will get some more 12 rounds in by defending this title or going for a European crown.

“There is no point throwing me into the deep end straight away because I have only had one 12-round fight. I can take my time.”

That is a sensible attitude from the champion and one that will I’m sure be matched by responsible trainer Tony Borg and Selby’s Sanigar Events management team.

Selby’s success is another feather in the cap for Chris Sanigar and for Borg and the whole team at St Joes in Newport.

Wales’ top gym has boasted Welsh, Celtic, Commonwealth, British, European and world champions over the past few years, as well as medallists at the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.

Not since the heady days of three world champions at Enzo Calzaghe’s Newbridge stable have so many talented boxers trained at the same spot.

And, after starring in his own movie – Mr Calzaghe, it’s good to Joe Calzaghe planning a return to the sport.

Joe has thankfully jettisoned the likes of Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Masterchef to return to his natural habitat as a manager.

After retiring seven years ago with his unbeaten record intact after more than a decade as a world champion there is surely no better guiding hand for the next generation of Welsh boxers.

"Promoting is a no-no – that's hard work. Training is a full-time job, but I don't have time to do that full-time," he told the BBC.

"But I was self-managed for a lot of my career so I know both sides. That will be perfect for me.

"I feel I can offer fighters a lot of experience.

"You need a manager in boxing who is thinking about the fighters and what is best for their career. Sometimes if you are managed by your promoter, it can lead to a conflict of interest.

"I miss boxing and in terms of finding a role back within the sport, this feels like a natural progression."

Calzaghe has reportedly held informal talks with Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn about a potential working relationship and that can only be good news for Welsh boxing and for its greatest ever star. Welcome back Joe.