Lee Selby’s IBF featherweight title defence against Josh Warrington has been confirmed for May 19.

The long-term rivals will fight in Leeds – Press Association Sport understands promoter Frank Warren hopes to next week confirm Elland Road as the venue – where the popular Warrington was born and has developed his fanbase.

Wales’ Selby, 30, has already made four successful defences of his title and will remain the favourite against a challenger fighting for world honours for the first time.

He hopes to defeat Warrington – who has long pursued him – before facing the winner of April’s match-up between Carl Frampton and Nonito Donaire, and said: “He’s done everything that has been asked of him so far.

“He’s picked up my vacated titles and beat a lot of my past opponents. To his credit, he’s earned his position as my mandatory challenger and deserves his shot.

“The plan is to beat Warrington and then go over to Belfast and beat Frampton too. If I beat Frampton then the world is my oyster. This is a huge year for me and by the end of it I’ll prove to everyone that I’m the number one featherweight in the UK.”

Leeds supporter Warrington, 27 and undefeated, was partly driven to sign for Warren because of the promoter’s plans to tempt Selby to Elland Road, and he said: “For the past three or four years our names have always been mentioned together.

“He’s always been that one step ahead of me and everyone has always looked at him as the number one featherweight in the UK, but that will change on May 19.

“The city of Leeds has been craving a world champion for years and on May 19 I’m going to make history.”