Is it East versus West? So asked Survivor in their iconic Rocky 4 song as Balboa went behind the Iron Curtain to take on the dastardly Drago.
This is East versus West to a degree, Russia v England at Wembley where David Avanesyan defends his European title against Josh Kelly on Saturday night.
But, the truth is it’s more North-East against East Midlands.
Josh is the unbeaten Sunderland boxer taking on Ava, who has spent the last five and a half years based in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Admittedly, your punch-lines writer has not met many people from the old Soviet Union, but can vouch that this fella is one of the nicest Russians you could wish to meet.
Like Josh Kelly, he is a warm, polite individual and boy, can he fight.
A former world champion who is ranked in the top 10 of every major boxing body, he hopes victory over the unbeaten 26-year-old will bring him another tilt at the big one.
Not that he says he is looking beyond his challenger and warns that just because he is six years Kelly’s senior that he is any way past his best.
“I’ve trained hard, everything feels good and I’m focused for this fight,” said the welterweight who has won all three of his European title fights inside the distance.
“People think time might be against me because I’m 32, but I feel stronger now and better and better.
“I’m feeling good, I’m hungry I want to win, I want to win for my family, for my children.
“A world title shot? That’s what I want if I win this fight, I hope it will be my next fight but I am focused on Saturday.”
Avanesyan has boxed all over the world in a career which has brought 26 wins and a draw and just three defeats.
Click here to read what Josh Kelly thinks about the fight.
But he has fought only three times in his adopted home country, including as the support bout when Sunderland’s Lee Mould challenged Adam Little in Blackpool for the English welterweight belt in 2015.
“I love it in England, the English know their boxing,” he said.
“I have boxed in Liverpool, Blackpool and Wolverhampton but it is nice to be fighting in London and on this big show.”
It’s all on Sky Sports on Saturday night or if you prefer the radio, 5 Live Sports Extra are broadcasting from Wembley at 10pm.
Like punch-lines said, it’s as much North-East v East Midlands as East v West, but it’s going to be some war.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
