Gustavo Lemos becomes George Kambosos Jr.'s mandatory challenger with win over fading Lee Selby

The Argentine is an emerging contender in the lightweight division but after 28 fights in his homeland he may have proven his credibility and given himself a chance of a fight abroad in front of a worldwide audience.

Selby was stopped in five rounds in a one-sided defeat which may force the 35-year-old forward featherweight champion to consider whether he remains in the sport or calls time on his career.

Lemos subjected Selby to a barrage of heavy blows, and while the Welshman gamely attempted to do damage himself, it was the victor who was on top on the scorecards before the referee intervened. Selby was able to inflict a cut above his opponent’s left eye, but was left woozy on his feet more than once.

In the fourth round, with Lemos already on top in the third, Selby took a knee too close out the round, with the writing on the wall.

In the following round Selby increasingly struggled to mount an effective defence and when he struggled to resist a series of heavy blows, he was knocked down for the second time in the fight and referee Mario Ganzalez called time.

The unbeaten 26-year-old is now the IBF mandatory challenger to George Kambosos Jr., though it seems unlikely that he will have an imminent shot at the title.

The unified champion had expected to face Vasily Lomachenko in Australia but events in Ukraine saw the former four-belt titleholder return to his homeland to take up arms against Russia.

That has seen Devin Haney, the WBC champion, move into the crosshairs for an undisputed clash.

Selby tweeted after the right that 'time waits for no man' suggesting that he is aware that he may not have many fights - if any - left in him.