“The bigger the occasion and the better the opponent, the better I will perform.”
Those were the words of Josh Kelly just four days out from his USA debut.
The Sunderland boxer defends his WBA International welterweight title against Ray Robinson in New York on Saturday night.
And ‘Pretty Boy’ was strutting his stuff today in the public work-out in the Big Apple ahead of his attractive championship match on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden.
The 25-year-old will be live in the States on DAZN and live in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office and he promised today that the boxing public will see the best of him against the American.
“This is huge,” said Kelly. “It’s just the next step in the progression of a fighter.
“I’m going to soak it all up, the bigger the occasion and the better the opponent, the better I will perform.
“On Saturday, I will be wide awake and alert. If I’m switched on, it could be a really good night.”
The Adam Booth-trained talent will need to be switched on.
Robinson knows his way around the ring.
Aged 33, the southpaw from Philadelphia has lost just three times in 28 appearances and has only been stopped once.
WBC world champion Shawn Porter was forced to go the distance when the pair met in Mississippi.
“It’s a massive step-up,” added Kelly in an interview with Sky Sports at the Brookfield Place venue in Manhattan for today’s public work-out.
“Robinson is a great fighter, a southpaw who is long and awkward.
“This is part and parcel of the game, I have to figure them out, break these guys down and get the win.
“The welterweight division is tough, with top competitors at the highest level.
“In 12-18 months’ time, these steps will make the difference when I’m mixing it.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
