Welsh stylist Lee Selby defends his British and Commonwealth featherweight titles against former champion John Simpson in what looks to be a top-notch encounter at the York Hall in Bethnal Green tonight. Selby won his titles via a dramatic eighth round knockout over the highly rated Steven Smith in September. Simpson himself had lost both his Commonwealth and British featherweight titles in two desperately close encounters with Smith, and now hopes to get both belts back with victory tonight.

Lee Selby versus John Simpson will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 from 8 PM.

24-year-old Selby (11-1, three KOs) was a clear underdog going into his fight against the fast rising and unbeaten Smith in September. The younger brother of former British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Paul Smith, Steven Smith had impressed by edging John Simpson twice, claiming the Commonwealth featherweight title first in September 2010 with a split 12 round decision, and then adding the British title with a majority decision over the Scotsman in April of this year.

Smith is a fast punching textbook boxer-puncher, while Selby fights in what could be described as a quintessential American style – the Welshman likes to carry his left hand low, and although orthodox, he has no problem switching to southpaw and back, and will do so regularly throughout a fight.

Although many critics and fans seem to think Selby's shock victory over Smith was down to the Liverpool fighter having an off night, I believe it was more down to the unconventionality of Selby's style breaking up Smith's rhythm. Despite going into the fight with just two KOs on his record, by the eighth round Selby's shots were thudding through Smith's defense, and his right hand in particular was finding his opponent's jaw with sickening regularity. So preoccupied was the Liverpool fighter with this punch, he did not see the ferocious left hook that flattened him midway through the round.

Despite his low KO ratio, Selby has now stopped three of his last four opponents, and after scoring such a devastating knockout in his last fight, his confidence in his punching power will be sky high.

Selby's only defeat in his three year pro career came in his fifth fight in May 2009, when he dropped a four round decision against Hull´s still unbeaten Samir Mouneimne. Selby impressed with a six rounds points win over fellow prospect and current English featherweight champion Ben Jones in June 2010. Nevertheless, his victory over Smith for the British and Commonwealth titles was unexpected and has thrust him to the top of what is an extremely competitive division in British boxing.

Greenock's 28-year-old John Simpson (22-8, nine KOs) has threatened to retire if he feels he is once again robbed of a decision by the ringside judges. Simpson feels he did more than enough to win both of his fights against Steven Smith, and this week said:

''I don’t want to quit but if something bad happens then I will have to think about it.'' Simpson told Scotland's Daily Record this week. ''I have to stay positive and if we are both at the top of our game, I’ll win. But if something dodgy happens again and the scores don’t go the right way then I could retire and walk away. I don’t want to do that as I love the sport and the great things about it. I hope I get some luck as I‘ve more than my share of dodgy decisions.'' 

On the subject of his two losses to Smith, Simpson said:

''I’m still bitter about what happened in the past so you want to take it out of the judges’ hands. I have the ability and this could be my time.''

A nine year professional with 36 bouts under his belt, all of Simpson's losses barring a six round points defeat in his second fight have come against top notch opposition in championship contests.  

He was turned back in British featherweight title challenges against Dazzo Williams and Andy Morris and outpointed in a  fight for the WBU featherweight title by Steven Foster Jr before KO'ing Morris in a rematch for the British featherweight crown in December 2006. 

He lost to an unbeaten Derry Matthews in another WBU featherweight title fight in March 2007, but successfully defended his British title against Ryan Barrett (KO 5) and Morris in a rubber match (KO 7) before losing his crown on a 12 round decision to Paul Appleby in June 2008.

Simpson was a champion again the following year when he stopped Middlesbrough's Paul Truscott on cuts in eight rounds to lift the Commonwealth belt, then defended that title successfully against Truscott in a rematch (TKO 10) and Stevie Bell (W 12). Sandwiched in between his two subsequent losses to Smith was a 12 round decision over Belfast's Martin Lindsay that saw the Scot regain the British featherweight title.

On paper, Simpson would appear to be way too experienced and savvy a campaigner for 12 bout veteran Selby. At 5'7" tall, Simpson will have a 2 inch height and corresponding reach advantage over his Welsh rival. Like Smith, Simpson is a textbook boxer, and could therefore run into the same problems as the scouse fighter did against the tricky, switch-hitting Selby, but his experience in clutch fights against top flight opposition should give him the adaptability that the relative novice Smith lacked.

This is an extremely tough fight to predict, but despite Selby's sensational victory over Smith and the fact that he has the style to cause anyone problems, I have to go with the experience of Simpson, the quality of opposition he has faced and the fact that he has never been stopped, and I look for him to score a close but unanimous 12 round decision and regain his British and Commonwealth featherweight titles.

Simpson by 12 round decision.

Big Fight Odds: Lee Selby evens, John Simpson 4/5 SkyBet