Kris George plans to exploit Josh Kelly’s lack of experience when he puts his Commonwealth title on the line in Newcastle on Saturday night.
The Australian is not fazed at defending his welterweight belt against one of Britain’s hottest boxing properties AND in the challenger’s backyard.
George-Kelly is the co-headline contest at the Metro Radio Arena, where Eddie Hearn brings his Matchroom bandwagon for the first time since 2015.
Kelly is the red-hot favourite even though this will only be his SEVENTH professional appearance, compared to the 16th for the 28-year-old from Queensland.
George is happy to acknowledge the ability and amateur pedigree of the Sunderland talent, who represented Great Britain at the Olympics in Rio, before turning pro with Adam Booth and Hearn.
George, who has just one defeat on his fight log, says he has been in the same position before in his only other fight outside Australia, when he stopped the previously-unbeaten Bowyn Morgan in Christchurch two years ago.
“Josh is missing one thing, and that’s experience,” said the man from Toowoomba.
“We’ll do our best to try to expose that on the night and see how he handles it.
“We went over to New Zealand to fight in the Joseph Parker undercard when he was fighting for a WBO title.
“It was a similar story to this.
“I fought their golden boy, who’d been to the Commonwealth Games and had a big amateur background and was a strong fighter.
“But I knocked him out in the third round.
“I exploited his lack of experience.
“I know myself all about it, I lost in my seventh fight. There are a few key things you learn along the way, if you get pushed too far you can sometimes learn the hard way.”
Punch-lines caught up with George at the public work-out at the Metro Centre, where the show’s star fighters went through their paces.
The former WBA Oceania light-welterweight belt holder cut a relaxed figure while he watched his challenger strut his stuff in the ring in the Exhibition Square.
Travelling 10,000 miles to defend his belt he says is not a problem.
“I don’t mind it one bit,” smiled the boxer who combines his sport with running a fishing tackle shop back home.
“I don’t have to sell tickets, do all the media stuff, and I get away from work! I’m having a holiday here, I feel really good.
“We got here Sunday, it’s great, we’re just trying to take everything in.
“I’ve never taken part in a public work-out like this before, but I enjoyed it and I’m enjoying the whole experience.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Lawrence Lustig/ Matchroom
