BN Preview: After the best performance of his career, Josh Kelly faces a fight that makes little sense
BACK in December it appeared as if Josh Kelly made something of a breakthrough. Boxing for 12 rounds with the same smoothness and confidence as a professional athlete, he managed to cope with the fighting pressure at Newcastle quite brilliantly on the way to defeating his opponent. local player northeast of Troy Williamson. His reward for that dominance is the British super-middleweight title, formerly held by Williamson, as well as the satisfaction of seeing so many people have previously fled his group, following the loss. 2021 before David Avanesyan, awkwardly crawling in front of it, with the remains of the cake modestly strewn across their mouths.
It is therefore regrettable given how brilliant Kelly was that night in Newcastle and how much momentum the win over Williamson created, he is back again this Saturday ( July 15) in a match nothing like the previous one is meaningful and exciting. Instead, Kelly, with the English title now at home, will return to Newcastle to take on the unnamed Argentinian Gabriel Corzo, his UK appearance this weekend will be his first outside of his homeland. That in itself tends to be a warning sign in situations like these, as does the fact that Corzo, for all the beauty of an 18-0 professional record, has only scored three stops out of Those 18 wins.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Corzo can’t fight, or punch, nor does he mean he won’t become one of the unknown South Americans who come to Britain and cause the most unexpected disturbances. However, in theory, which is all we have to go on in this fight, Corzo essentially represents the kind of opponent Kelly will have to fight between Avanesyan and Williamson – i.e. when he is in the middle of a fight. rebuild his confidence and reputation – and, in an ideal world, shouldn’t be the opponent he’s trying to build on the recent momentum he’s impressively gathered .
However, the fight is done now and that’s all it takes. Given the unknown factor, perhaps Kelly’s biggest danger here is complacency, of which he has been a victim in the past. For this latest fight, unlike the one with Williamson, there is neither the same build-up nor expectations. In many ways, it also lacks the same danger, which, according to boxing history, can lead to problems for the man expected to win.
That man, in this case, was definitely Kelly. With a score of 13-1-1 (7), apart from this match, he has had a tough time as a pro from day one and has received both lessons and experience through the process. this educational program. For example, a draw against Ray Robinson taught him a lot about traveling abroad and the need to stay busy in close combat, while the aforementioned Avanesyan loss was the catalyst that helped Kelly. not only gaining weight class – from heavyweight to superheavyweight – but looking for a psychologist to help him sort through his messy and complicated mind.
Now 29 years old, he is someone who has had to grow up quickly, both as a boxer and as a man. He is also the one whose skill shines most when faced with a threat, or when he has his back against a wall, as was the case with Williamson seven months ago. That night, many feared for him, and many chose against him, but Kelly was explosive and bossy from the first half, proving too quick and smart for his relatively outspoken opponent. ta. It was billed in advance as a fight Kelly couldn’t lose and not once, from the first to the last, has that seemed like a possibility.
The same could happen with his 16th professional game this weekend; despite speaking before the bell rang. For Corzo, despite the Argentine’s unbeaten record and unpredictable record in England, there shouldn’t be anything that Kelly hasn’t seen and done his way before. Furthermore, given Corzo’s apparent lack of power, this really should be a fight Kelly aims for as one where he can put his foot up, unleash his rich punches and deliver declared by stopping early.
On Newcastle’s bottom card is a much more competitive fight between featherweight superclasses Qais Ashfaq And Liam Dillonwho will compete for the British championship is vacant.
Ashfaq, 12-1 (5), has won five straight games since losing his only professional match to Marc Leach in 2020, although three of those defeated opponents have a losing record. Indeed, Ashfaq’s best win of that bout was a fourth-round stoppage-time match he won against Ash Lane, the Bristolian boxer who recently won the British title at bantamweight.
Meanwhile, Dillon is undefeated as a professional 12-0-1 (3) and lifts the British super featherweight title with a decisive 10-round majority win over Dennis Wahome in 2021. before winning that title, when Youssef Khoumari, also undefeated, drew him in a 10-round split.
In addition to tonight’s title fight, there will be opportunities in Newcastle for flyweight prospects Chloe Watson5-0 (0), who fights Laura Belen Valdebenito5-4-1 (2) and heavyweight Steve “Drago” Robinson6-1(4), who fights Franklin Ignatius5-0-1(1).
Final, Troy Williamson19-1-1(14), former British super-weapon champion Josh Kelly was dethroned last year, returns to the horse against Ramiro Blancoan athlete from Nicaragua with a professional record of 19-23-3 (10).
