Local bragging rights were at stake on the Wasserman card in Newcastle this evening. Josh Kelly took on local rival Troy Williamson for the British Super Welterweight live on Channel 5.
Josh Kelly started the contest the more relaxed and composed of the two, picking off Williamson with relative ease. It wasn’t until late in the forth round that Williamson caught Kelly with a decent right hand. However as the pair traded just before the bell it was Kelly who landed once more, banking the first four rounds comfortably.
In round five we really started to see Josh Kelly go through the gears. A beautiful combination saw the legs of Williamson buckle. Kelly did more good work landing another flush right hand with Williamson on the ropes, but couldn’t get him out of there. Williamson did however manage to draw strength to land a right on Kelly at the bell. But Kelly was in full control throughout the first part of the fight.
Things slowed a little in the sixth and seventh rounds, Kelly remained composed and on the move taking yet another two rounds. Kelly was brimming with confidence, up on his stall for large amounts of the breaks dancing and eager to get started again. Kelly’s speed, movement and range of punches were clearly becoming too much for Williamson at this stage. Kelly was taunting and showboating to its highest extent at the end of the seventh.
It continued into the eighth, but no matter how hard Williamson pressed the goading Kelly, every time Williamson came into range Kelly would continue to punish him with his speed and accuracy. The uppercut and left hook was proving to be a successful combination for Josh Kelly at this stage.
Round nine, Kelly was managing to keep out of trouble with continued ease as Williamson would try his best to go on the hunt. We did see Kelly unload in the last minute with yet another flashy combination that ended with a right uppercut. It was more of the same in the tenth. Kelly so relaxed, he just had Williamson’s number all night long.
Heading into the final two rounds, we were expecting an all out attack from Williamson having lost the first ten rounds. It didn’t come! Kelly was unruffled throughout, despite receiving a small cut from a clash of heads midway in the round. A left hook sent Williamson stumbling ever so slightly, Kelly was now embarrassing his opponent.
Williamson would land two good body shots at the beginning of the twelfth, but Kelly remained unfazed in this lopsided contest. Williamson continued to come forward until the very end, but it remained in vain.
The scorecards read; 118-110, 119-109 and 119-111 as Josh Kelly was announced as the new British Super Welterweight Champion.
With the Lord Lonsdale belt proudly hung over his shoulder, Kelly said “I think I’m dreaming! A big shout out to Sunderland and the rest of the North East. I’m so happy the hard work has paid off.’
‘He’s going to be something special. I’m only interested in the best and he wants to be the best.’ Said trainer Adam Booth.
Many boxing British boxing fans had given up on Josh Kelly since being stopped against David Avanesyan last year, many even had Williamson as the favourite in this local clash. Kelly now takes a huge step to get back towards the world stage, a step that proved a little hasty at the first time of asking.
A long way to go still for 28 year-old, but in the right place at the right time against the right champion, Kelly has some chance of going all the way.