NEWPORT featherweight Lee Selby will have to wait for a crack at the British title after a change of opponent for his latest bout.

The 24-year-old Welsh champion, who trains with Tony Borg at the city’s St Josephs gym, was set to fight Scottish champion Kris Hughes in a British title eliminator at the Pill Millennium Centre.

But Hughes has been forced to pull out of the July 30 showdown after sustaining a rib injury in sparring.

Fellow Scot James Ancliff, who lost his national featherweight title to Hughes, has stepped in to take on Selby in a battle for the Celtic belt.

“We are a little disappointed because it’s no longer a British title eliminator,” said promoter Chris Sanigar.

“But there is still the Celtic featherweight title on the line and it should be a good contest.

“Ancliff is a former Scottish champion and will give Lee Selby a tough test.”

Aberdeen-based Ancliff has won 11, drawn two and lost 14 of his 27 professional fights as opposed to Hughes’ 13 wins and one defeat.

Selby, who also has one defeat in his 10 pro contests, will be confident of victory.

But Ancliff should not be underestimated, having started 2011 in spectacular fashion by winning the Scottish belt – stopping the undefeated Jason Hastie in five rounds.

He then went on to convincingly outpoint former English champion Marc Callaghan in Leeds before losing on points to Hughes in May.

Selby has also spent the past few months preparing to face a southpaw in Hughes but Ancliff is an orthodox fighter who is likely to be much more aggressive than his fellow countryman.

Meanwhile, Selby’s St Joes training partner Gary Buckland has seen his British title clash with champion Gary Sykes confirmed for Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Arena on Saturday, September 24.

The 25-year-old, who knocked out Sykes within 45 seconds of their Prizefighter clash last November, had hoped to have home advantage as he aims to snatch the Lonsdale belt from the Yorkshireman.

But, as revealed in yesterday’s Argus, no suitable south Wales venue could be found for that date, which was set in stone by Sky Sports.

“We would have preferred it to be in Newport or Cardiff but we’re positive about it,” said Buckland’s manager Brian Powell.

“A boxing ring is the same wherever it is and we’ll have a lot of supporters travelling up to Sheffield.”