OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Nervy Selby into last eight

By Ben Burrows, Sportsbeat, London 2012

GREAT Britain’s Andrew Selby booked himself a place in the last eight of the London 2012 boxing tournament with a nervy but impressive win over Kazakhstan’s Ilyas Suleimenov.

SELBY STRIDES ON: Welsh flyweight led from the first round and eased to a four-point victory

The Welsh flyweight led from the front and despite incurring a warning in the final round, ran out the 19-15 winner – and is now only one fight away from a guaranteed Olympic medal.

World number one Selby, who claimed a silver medal at last year’s World Championships in Baku, said he will go from strength to strength after a slightly untidy opening bout.

"I didn't feel at my best tonight and I was sloppy, but as the competition progresses I will get better,” he said.

"I just had to hit and move to win. The referee thought I was holding behind the head and grabbing, but it was him.

"I can and will box out of my skin from now on.

"I am buzzing now, especially as my mum was in the crowd. It was only the second time she has seen me box. She usually comes to the fights, but goes outside when it is my turn."

The atmosphere inside the ExCel Arena was parallel to a world title fight at times and Selby’s coach Dave Alloway said he will only get better from experiencing such raucous home support.

"It was a nervous one and his timing wasn't right, but now he has experienced the noise of the crowd he'll get better,” he said.

© Sportsbeat 2012