EBU orders Francesco Patera to defend against Lee Selby

Former featherweight titlist Lee Selby could soon have the opportunity to claim a decently respectable title at 135 pounds. The European Boxing Union (EBU) has ordered reigning lightweight champion Francesco Patera to face Selby in his next defense, scheduling a November 26th purse bid in case the respective sides can’t come to terms.

Patera (23-3, 8 KO), a 26-year-old Belgian who’d previously lost notable fights to Yvan Mendy and Sean Dodd before splitting a pair of bouts with Edis Tatli, broke out in October of last year with a decision over Lewis Ritson to reclaim the belt he’d lost to Tatli. He’s thrice defended it against Marvin Petit, Paul Hyland Jr., and just two weeks ago, Domenico Valentino.

Selby (28-2, 9 KO) has claimed victory in both of his 135-pound appearances since losing his 126-pound title to Josh Warrington last year, though neither came easy. After surviving a stiff test from Omar Douglas in February, he took on Ricky Burns in an all-UK clash two weeks back, claiming a scrappy majority decision over his fellow veteran.

Quality matchup between two guys looking to prove they belong in the discussion of the top lightweights in the game. Hope they manage to put it together.