Lee Selby vs. Fernando Montiel: Winner, Scorecard and Reaction

Lee Selby made his United States debut Wednesday evening as he mounted his first-ever featherweight world title defense against Fernando Montiel in Glendale, Arizona, and the Welshman did well to withstand counterblows from the veteran in order to retain his belt. 

According to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, the judges deemed Selby (22-1) the winner by unanimous decision, 119-109, 118-110, 116-112. 

Premier Boxing Champions on Twitter confirmed the result and passed along highlights:

Considering Selby was fighting in enemy territory in front of a pro-Montiel crowd, he took another step toward building his brand in the U.S. with a positive showing against a seasoned foe.     

Entering the bout, Selby reiterated that he was up for the challenge of trading blows with a former champion like Montiel (54-5-2), who hadn't lost a fight in four years prior to Wednesday's showdown.

"Montiel is an established fighter in America, so if I beat him on free TV and do it well and look good, that should change my profile overnight in America and get me bigger fights with bigger names against other champions," Selby said prior to the fight, per ESPN.com's Brian Campbell.

According to BoxRec, the 28-year-old has now won 18 consecutive fights since losing to Samir Mouneimne in 2009. 

Selby came out with a relatively tentative mindset, and Campbell noted there was a flaw with that strategy: 

However, the Welshman was able to impose his will more in the second round as he used his 5'8" frame to keep the 5'4" Montiel on his heels just a bit. 

ESPN.com's Nigel Collins provided a nice summary of the bout's first three rounds:

Things opened up more for Montiel in the fourth, when he was able to tag Selby repeatedly. As Collins observed, Round 4 was a turning point of sorts for Montiel:

At that point, Montiel assumed the role of aggressor. The 36-year-old opened up big cut over Selby's right eye and had the youngster grasping for straws following tactical lapses. 

CompuBox had a key stat to pass along halfway through the fight that highlighted just how close things were:

Rounds seven and eight helped put Selby back in control, though. While Montiel was able to stay competitive long enough to keep things interesting, the world titleholder retained his belt thanks to a calm demeanor that allowed him to settle in and land flurries of combinations against a feisty opponent. 

Montiel landed some surprising power shots in the fight's latter stages that caught Selby off guard, but the 28-year-old kept his cool and was able to hold his ground in a hostile environment, per Collins. 

The attention will now turn to Selby's rising star. He recently stated his desire to fight Leo Santa Cruz, per Rafael, but ESPN's Todd Grisham is skeptical the up-and-comer could hold his own against the undefeated stud from Mexico:

Selby's earned a shot at a more high-profile opponent, but it may be in his best interest to remain patient and build up confidence before putting the title on the line in a more pressure-packed situation. 

Post-Fight Reaction

Selby broke down his approach with reporters following the victory, and ultimately, he kept things pretty simple. 

"My jab, reach and speed were my biggest advantages tonight," Selby said, per Rafael. "That was how I got the win."

He also discussed the nasty cut over his right eye, according to Rafael. 

"All the cuts I've had in my career have come against shorter fighters like (Montiel). When I got cut tonight in the sixth round it was the same thing. I caught a head butt."

Although Shelby accomplished his main goal, per Rafael, he also saw plenty of room for improvement as he seeks to start a string of wins in the U.S.

"I was honestly disappointed in my performance. I got the win, and it was a great feeling to get my first one on U.S. soil. But the fans didn't see me at my best, and a big part of that was Montiel's experience. He's a great fighter."