Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena will be bouncing on June 16 when the North-East’s newest champion, Josh Kelly, will be in action again.
So says promoter Eddie Hearn, who will headline new WBA international welterweight champion on Matchroom’s show on the banks of the Tyne.
Kelly will be joined on the big stage by two of the region’s other thrill-a-minute champs, Newcastle’s British lightweight title holder, Lewis Ritson, and Josh’s Sunderland neighbour, Glenn Foot, who owns the Commonwealth light-welterweight belt.
Hearn was left spellbound by Kelly’s 10-round unanimous points decision over Carlos Molina in Cardiff on Saturday.
And once the 98-92 (twice) and 99-91 verdict was celebrated, he confirmed it was all systems go for Matchroom’s first visit to the Metro Radio Arena since 2015.
“I asked Josh ‘how are your hands?’ and he said ‘good’ so that means we are going to Newcastle,” Hearn til Sky Sports Box Office.
“That arena will be jumping, what a time for North-East boxing
“Josh Kelly to do that too Carlos Molina after six fights is tremendous, Lewis Ritson is absolutely flying.
“On June 16 his boy is coming home he’s got a massive future in this division, he oozes class, oozes skill, he’s going all the way.”
Kelly went 10 rounds for the first time at the Principality Stadium and was a thoroughly deserved victor, outclassing the former IBF world light-middleweight champion.
There was plenty of the flashy skills which has made the 24-year-old such an attraction.
But he was also happy to show he has the engine for the long game.
“He was hard to catch clean and I was getting caught with a few shots so, sometimes, I went on the back foot,” Kelly told Sky interviewer, Andy Scott.
“I didn’t want to hurt my hands too much because I know Eddie has big plans for June.
“That was a really good test, I thought I took a few cheap shots but that’s all part of the game and I’m still learning.
“You couldn’t switch off in there because Molina was always there with his unorthodox rhythm and unorthodox jab.
“No disrespect, but he was that slow that it made him really, really awkward and because he was unorthodox that’s why I was getting caught a few times.”
Words: Roy Kelly Pictures: Lawrence Lustig/ Matchroom
