Chris Sanigar is the manager and trainer of recently crowned IBF Featherweight World Champion, Lee Selby. Chris is also preparing another of his fighters for a World title, the fighter in question is Bristol Bantamweight, Lee Haskins, who fights Ryosuke Iwasa for the vacant IBF belt in Bristol on June the 13th. Chris being a recognisable face on the British boxing scene, is a keen promoter and has been the biggest promoter in the south west of England and Wales for the last 20 years.
I had the pleasure of speaking to Chris Sanigar this week where we talked about Lee Selby’s recent World title Success over Evgeny Gradovich, Lee Haskins upcoming World title shot, moving Gym’s and having good relationships with fellow promoters.
Adam Noble-Forcey: Congratulations on Lee Selby winning the IBF World Featherweight title this past Saturday. Did you envisage Lee Selby being in such a different league to Evgeny Gradovich?
Chris Sanigar: Thank you, yes it was very pleasing! I kept looking at Gradovich on Youtube and other different sites and all I saw was him walking in a straight line and I just couldn’t see how my man could get beat, unless there was a clash of heads or something like that. In the end Lee Selby was much, much too good.
Adam Noble-Forcey: Having put a lot of time and effort into Lee Selby, you must be very pleased? I hear he is set to be out again twice this year?
Chris Sanigar: Yes we are very happy and pleased with ourselves, there is nothing better than that feel good feeling. The plan is to get Lee Selby out again twice this year and we would love to get him fighting in Cardiff by the end of the year. With it being a very exciting division, we want to turn Lee Selby into the Featherweight everybody wants to box.
Adam Noble-Forcey: Lee Selby comes across as a very chilled and placid guy. However the Lee Selby we see walking into the ring on fight night, has a real arrogance about him.
Chris Sanigar: Yes that’s right Lee Selby is a real character in the ring, which is the opposite to the life he leads outside the ring. He’s a real introvert in everyday life.
Adam Noble-Forcey: You also have another World title fight coming up for another one of your fighters; Lee Haskins hopes to gain the IBF Bantamweight title on the 13th June. How is everything going with Lee Haskins?
Chris Sanigar: Things are going well; Lee Haskins looks very good in training. He is sparring well and spared more rounds for this fight than he has ever done previously for any other fight. He’s looking really good.
Adam Noble-Forcey: Lee Haskins has long been given the tag of “the most avoided man in British Boxing!” Would you agree with that statement?
Chris Sanigar: Yes! He definitely been avoided, but he’s finally got his chance and has to grab it with both hands. It means everything for Lee to fight for a World title in Bristol. When we discussed the prospect of fighting for the IBF World title, he said “Chris please, please get this fight in Bristol” We have been very fortunate working with Mick Hennessey, who’s pulled out all the stops to get the fight in Bristol.
Adam Noble-Forcey: Lee Haskins has always seemed to me that he is fighter that can drawn into a fight. What are your tactics for the 13th June?
Chris Sanigar: We want Lee Haskins to keep boxing. From what we have seen from Ryosuke Iwasa; he comes to fight and he likes to come forward. He has long arms and looks very awkward. We’ll be looking to box early on so we can suss it all out.
(Click play to listen to the Chris Sanigar interview in it’s entirety)
The Mexican Russian got beat up. No need for a rematch here.
Would be good to see Lee Selby in the US, I think he could match up well with Abner Mares or even Walters
with Eddie Hearn working closely with Top Rank, Goldenboy and Al Haymon. The likely hood of Selby fighting against a fellow World Champ in the states is very high.