Josh Kelly To Problem For European Welterweight Title

2016 Olympian and undefeated skilled, Britain’s Josh Kelly is ready to lastly problem reigning European Champion, former world champion and prime 15 Welterweight; Russia’s David Avanesyan on February 20. Kelly vs Avanesyan will likely be proven dwell on Sky Sports activities and DAZN on the SSE Area, Wembley, it is going to be the second battle of Matchroom Boxing’s 5-fight sequence.

This battle has been rescheduled for the third time because it was initially meant to be December 8, 2018, in Sheffield, then March 28 on the 02 then Matchroom’s opening present in 2021 on January 30 however has now moved dates once more to February 20.

Group Avanesyan accused Kelly of ‘working scared‘ after pulling out of their unique contest with an sickness on the day of the battle. Avanesyan will likely be Kelly’s hardest check up to now and coming by it would undoubtedly show himself on the prime degree.

On Chief Help, the closely common Albanian Florian Marku steps up massively in opposition to the guy undefeated Rylan Charlton who upset the 9-0 Newcastle prospect Joe Legal guidelines in his final battle. The winner of Marku-Charlton will likely be eyeing the principle occasion winner for a battle down the road.

Additionally on the undercard, Anthony Fowler battles Jorge Fortea over 10 rounds. Moreover, we see the Commonwealth Title rematch between Amy Timlin (4-0) and Carly Skelly (3-0) and New S-Jam boxing and Matchroom signing Johnny Fisher makes his professional debut.

Kelly vs Avanesyan: Sink or Swim for Josh Kelly

Olympian Josh Kelly turned professional with Matchroom Boxing in 2017 as an enormous prospect who was swiftly superior by. He fought 5 instances in 2017 earlier than stepping up in early 2018 for the WBA (Worldwide) belt in opposition to former world champion Carlos Molina who took him the space in an excellent, aggressive studying battle.

Kelly then stopped Kris George in Newcastle to win the Commonwealth strap and instantly eyed a battle with Prime 15 Contender David Avanesyan. The battle was scheduled for December 8, 2018, and March 28 2020, however each cancelled. Within the interim, Kelly made his US debut in opposition to Ray Robinson and obtained a really lucky draw as many had Kelly down on the scorecards.

Kelly confirmed indicators of struggling to adapt to the skilled sport, retaining an excessive amount of of his newbie abilities and unnecessarily losing plenty of vitality with ineffective motion. He’s going to need to be way more cautious and conservative in opposition to the very skilled and robust Avanesyan who will likely be trying to stroll him down from the opening bell.

Davis Avanesyan was not an enormous prospect when he turned professional and misplaced in solely his second battle earlier than profitable 12 in a row, choosing up the Russian Welterweight crown and WBC ABC Title within the course of. The Russian had his breakout battle in 2015 when he stopped Charlie Navarro for the WBA (Interim) World Title.

He outpointed Shane Mosley in his first defence in 2016 earlier than being promoted to (Common) World Champion. Avanesyan would lose two out of his subsequent 3 which included a detailed contest in opposition to Lamont Peterson and a stoppage defeat to Egidijus Kavaliauskas. He rebuilt his profession by choosing up the European title in 2019 and has made two defences up to now each by first-round knockouts.

With Kelly vs Avanesyan, Avanesyan now has one other likelihood to pummel himself into world degree and a win over Kelly might result in a giant battle. He’s already ranked within the prime 10 with each governing physique and Ought to he upset Kelly he might be able to get a world title eliminator or perhaps a title shot within the US. Nonetheless, it’s a very aggressive division and probabilities of a title shot are few and much between.

British rival Conor Benn will likely be watching Kelly vs Avanesyan with a eager eye as he hopes to land an enormous sell-out 02 PPV battle with Kelly in the summertime of 2021. However to maintain that battle alive, Kelly must come by the very robust, sturdy, skilled Russian on February 20. Kelly vs Avanesyan would be the defining second of Josh Kelly’s profession up to now.