Bounce Magazine October 2018

Josh Kelly -
The Future
Looks Bright...
OCTOBER 2018 | ISSUE #72
BY RALPH OATES
A series of articles which will feature boxing facts
from both the past to the present...
At the moment British boxing
is in the fortunate position
of having a host of talented
fighters in each weight
division all of whom look
destined to challenge for
a major title in the months
to come. One outstanding
performer who deserves a
mention is Commonwealth
and World Boxing Association
International welterweight
champion Josh Kelly.
Sunderland born Kelly who
is nicknamed ‘Pretty Boy’
is undefeated in seven
professional bouts and has
shown the skill set even at this
early stage to suggest that he
is more than capable of winning
a world championship in the
fullness of time. Anything can
of course happen in the fight
game so nothing is definite but
this boxer at the age of twenty
four looks a little special.
Josh made his professional
debut at The SSE Hydro in
Glasgow in Scotland on the
15 April 2017 outpointing
opponent Jay Byrne of
Ireland over six rounds in an
entertaining contest. Byrne
dipped between the ropes to
meet Kelly with a record of five
bouts of which he won four
and lost one. So Byrne was not
an easy touch for Kelly’s first
outing
Kelly had a further four fights
during 2017 winning them all
inside the scheduled distance
in impressive style. Then on
the 31 March 2018 in just his
sixth professional outing Kelly
was matched with Mexican
born Carlos Molina in a contest
for the vacant World Boxing
Association International
welterweight title at the
Principality Stadium, Cardiff in
Wales. At first sight it looked
as if this match may have been
a little too ambitious for Kelly.
Molina was a former holder
of the International Boxing
Federation World Superwelterweight
championship and
had participated in thirty eight
bouts winning twenty eight
losing eight with two drawn.
On the night Kelly confirmed
his potential when he boxed
his way to a ten round point’s
decision to defeat Molina and
take the championship.
Kelly did not rest on his laurels
after the Molina victory he
was back in the ring on the 16
June 2018 the venue this time
being the Metro Radio Arena in
Newcastle Tyne and Wear. Kelly
was to defend his newly won
WBA International crown and
also challenge Australian Kris
George for the Commonwealth
title. Once again this looked to
be a difficult contest for the
Briton George had a record
of fifteen fights with just one
defeat. Kelly once again lived
up to expectations when he put
in a superb performance which
saw George retire in round
seven of a bout scheduled for
twelve.
There is a great deal to get
excited about when viewing
the prospects of Kelly. However
the welterweight division
is a tough one with many
outstanding performers so it
would be sensible not to rush
Kelly too quickly towards the
elite. The wise approach would
be to match Kelly carefully and
intelligently for him to gain vital
experience.
Ideally the young hopeful can
in the months to come defend
his Commonwealth and WBA
International belts and also
target the British crown. If
successful in these endeavours
and there’s every reason to
believe that he will be, he
can then cast an eye on the
European crown. This too is a
title he can add to his collection
of championships. For Josh
Kelly the future looks bright.
30