by David P. Greisman

Lee Selby watched from ringside at Barclays Center as Carl Frampton outpointed Leo Santa Cruz to win a featherweight world title. Selby was there because he has a world title of his own.

“I wanted to fight the winner,” Selby said afterward. “I said before the fight, I wanted to fight the winner or loser if it was a close fight, and it was a close fight.”

Selby picked up the International Boxing Federation belt in May 2015 with a technical decision over Evgeny Gradovich. He’s defended it twice since then, taking decisions over Fernando Montiel in October and Eric Hunter this past April.

Frampton earned the World Boxing Association title with his win.

“I thought he boxed brilliantly,” Selby said. “He chose different tactics than what I expected. I thought he’d box more on the back foot and try and outbox Santa Cruz, but at times he stood in the center of the ring and went toe to toe with him and beat Santa Cruz at his own game.”

Selby is from Wales in the United Kingdom. Frampton is from Northern Ireland. Selby says he hadn’t really considered Frampton as a potential opponent until this fight was announced.

“He’s always boxed at super bantam until recently. He moved up,” Selby said. “I think that’d be a great fight back in the U.K.”

Meanwhile, there’s unification fight available: one against Gary Russell Jr., who has the World Boxing Council belt. Selby, Frampton, Santa Cruz and Russell all are with boxing adviser Al Haymon.

“It’s a possibility,” Selby said. “He’s a world champion, so I’m up for it. He’s a very good fighter, got to be pound for pound one of the best. Very fast hands. He can punch. A southpaw. Well-schooled. He’s a good fighter.”

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