Lee Selby reveals three-offer bareknuckle deal that finally won him over

Lee Selby has signed a bareknuckle boxing contract after turning down two offers before accepting a third. The former featherweight world champion told BBC Sport that money drove his decision to enter the sport.

“They offered a great amount of money, which I declined. Then they offered more money, which I declined again, and finally they offered me enough to make me say yes. I'm a prize-fighter. I've fought my whole life. The prize is money. If the money's right, I'll fight.”

— Lee Selby, via BBC Sport

What Lee Selby said

Selby walked away from traditional boxing after losing his IBF featherweight title in 2018 and has fought sporadically since. Bareknuckle promotions have increasingly targeted established names from gloved boxing as the sport expands its profile in the UK and US, offering purses that rival mid-tier professional boxing paydays.

What it moves

Selby's move follows a pattern of former world champions crossing into bareknuckle competition for financial reasons. His frank admission about prize money driving the decision suggests the sport's promoters are now able to compete with traditional boxing purses when bidding for recognisable fighters. No opponent or date has been announced.

Source: bbc.co.uk. Full Lee Selby fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.