Talk about not messing about – in more ways than one.
Josh Kelly thumped Argentina’s Walter Castillo to a first-round stoppage defeat at the Manchester Arena tonight in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it display before being told he was fighting David Avanesyan next!
When doing a post-fight interview on Sky Box Office with Andy Scott, the dazzling Sunderland star declared he wanted his days at “this sort of level” ending.
As if by magic, his promoter, Eddie Hearn, announced to the venue and Box Office audience that ‘Pretty Boy’ would be fighting former world champion Avanesya at Sheffield on December 8.
It seemed as though it might have been the first time the Adam Booth-trained welterweight had heard about it too! Whether he knew or not is immaterial this is a belter for the Kell Brook-Michael Zefara show.
Avanesyan is a class act with a 23-3-1 record.
The 30-year-old from Armenia is a former WBA interim world champion, which included a win over a veteran ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley, while he lost last year in a close points reverse to Lamont Peterson in the States.
While listed as Russian, Avanesyan is based in Newark, and that’s Newark, Nottinghamshire not New Jersey.
“It’s a brilliant fight for Josh,” Hearn told Sky Box Office. “He’s been in with Lamont Petersen, beaten Shane Mosley.
“It’s a big, big step up from the level he has been operating at but you can see from that [tonight] that those days have to be behind him now.
“That was about him getting back in the ring.
“It is a massive step up for him but [me and coach Adam Booth] think he’s ready for it and he’ll move on to world titles in 2019.”
Kelly was insatiable at the Manchester Arena in one of the early bouts of the bill headlined by Oleksandr Usyk’s eighth-round stoppage victory over Tony Bellew.
The 24-year-old first put Castillo down with a right to the head and after he went back on the attack and unleashed a 10-punch combination on the Argentinian, referee John Lyson intervened and waved it off.
Castillo looked totally out of his depth, but it must be noted he had fought for the WBO Latin welterweight belt and had never been stopped.
Kelly told Sky Box Office: “I feel as though I am finished at this sort of level and want to move forward.
“I wanted to be tested and find out about myself. I am waiting for a name, I’m ready to go.”
The name is Avanesyan, the date December 8 and the location Sheffield. It should be some gig.
Words: Roy Kelly Pictures: Simon Stacpoole/ Matchroom
