WITH a world title eliminator just around the corner, Andrew Selby insisted on a tough test at the Newport Centre on Saturday night, despite being out of action for more than a year.

Selby returns to the ring on the back of a turbulent period in his life, one which included mum Frankie passing away and the suspension of his boxing licence after a court appearance.

Things with the British Boxing Board of Control have now been smoothed over and the unbeaten St Joseph’s star, 29, wants to make up for lost time.

And Selby is hoping that his comeback fight against Tanzania’s Adam Yahaya on the Sanigar Events show in Newport is going to give him the perfect preparation for a much bigger bout to come.

That one, a meeting with Mexican Julio César Martinez in a final eliminator for the WBC world flyweight crown, is expected to take place before Christmas.

“Because my next fight (against Martinez) is a big one, I said to my manager that I didn’t want anything easy for Saturday,” said Selby.

“They’ve got me a tough opponent who has never been stopped and will come to fight, and that’s something I need.

“You’re going to see a good performance from me and hopefully the first person to stop the guy.

“I don’t care how I win, I just want to make myself feel that I know I’ve boxed well.

“I’m not going to try and please the crowd or anything, I just want to know that I’m still fast and sharp.

“It has been a tough year for me but you either retire and moan about it or get on with it and show everyone that you’re capable of being a world champion – I’ve missed hurting people.”

Commenting on returning to the gym for this camp, he added: “Trying to get my lungs back to normal, that was the hardest part of it.

“My fitness levels were down for the first few weeks of training, but my speed was still there.

“I was a bit stronger at the beginning of the camp because I was heavier, but I’m back to normal now.”

On the Martinez contest, he said: “We’re going through the details now, we’ve just got to find a date.

“I’ll find out after my fight on Saturday, and hopefully it will be in the UK.

“I don’t know anything about Martinez, only that he’s lost once.”

While Dar es Salaam native Yahaya, 28, has won 18 of 22 fights, Selby is yet to taste

defeat in the pro ranks following 10 straight wins.