LEE Selby won’t be defending his world title when he faces Andoni Gago on Saturday night but the Welshman says he has been preparing for the bout as if the IBF featherweight crown was on the line.

St Joseph’s star Selby takes on Spain’s Gago at London’s O2 Arena five weeks after he was supposed to make his Las Vegas debut against mandatory challenger Jonathan Victor Barros.

The Mexican failed a medical 24 hours before the contest was due to be played out at the MGM Grand on the undercard of Carl Frampton’s rematch with Leo Santa Cruz.

Gago could well feel the full force of an opponent looking to release a considerable amount of frustration, although the Bilbao-born 31-year-old is hoping to cause an upset.

Tomorrow night's 10-round non-title contest will also be Selby’s first outing since he beat Eric Hunter at the O2 Arena 11 months ago.

“I was very disappointed when the fight fell through in Vegas but I had to stay professional,” said Selby, 30. “I was in the gym on the Monday then we drove back down to Los Angeles.

“I sparred there, took out a little bit of my frustration out on my sparring partner, and then luckily a fight was scheduled for me. I had a new goal to focus on and put the upset behind me.”

He added: “You can’t take anything for granted and I’ve taken this fight as seriously as any I’ve taken part in – I’ve trained like I’m defending my world title.

“I’ll be fighting in front of thousands of people, there will be millions watching across the world, I just love it, and that’s when I box at my best.

“You hear fighters saying ‘I need the rounds’ but that would be a bit disrespectful to Andoni Gago if I said I needed the rounds and sounded like I’m taking it for granted, which I’m not.

“Ideally I would like some ring time but if I catch him he’s got to go.”

And, as he explained, the London venue holds a special place in Selby’s heart: “I last boxed on April 9 and it was at the O2 Arena.

“This is going to be my fifth fight there and all of them so far have been the highlights of my career.

“I won the Lonsdale Belt outright, I won a final eliminator against Joel Brunker to box for the world title, and of course I won the world title against Evgeny Gradovich.

“I was back here in April and beat Eric Hunter, so this is my fifth time at the O2 and I’m looking to top all those wins and put on a masterclass.”

The Gago fight will also mark the end of Selby's agreement with promoters Matchroom, leaving him to become a free agent.

As a free agent, Selby says his advisor Al Haymon and manager Chris Sanigar "will be free to put me on shows anywhere in the world".

Meanwhile, Selby’s St Joes stablemate Dale Evans has been forced to pull out of his showdown with Tony Dixon for the vacant Welsh welterweight crown in Merthyr Tydfil on March 25.

Evans, who hasn’t fought since his ill-fated defeat of Mike Towell last September, picked up an elbow injury in training and has been unable to throw any punches with his left hand.

On top of that, the Cyclone Promotions show in Cardiff next Saturday, which was set to feature Andrew Selby, Morgan Jones, Ashley Brace and Mason Jones, has been called off.