Back and promising to take his opponent into “deep water”.
That is Josh Kelly who is preparing to take his first steps inside a boxing ring in 15 months this Friday night when he meets Xhuljo Vrenozi at the Indigo at the O2.
The iconic London landmark is the scene for promoters Wasserman’s Channel 5 debut and for Kelly it marks his long-awaited return since his first career defeat across the capital at Wembley in February 2021.
That sixth-round stoppage loss in his crack at David Avanesyan’s European welterweight title hurt but he’s back looking happy and working for new employers and live on terrestrial TV.
“I feel refreshed,” said the 28-year-old ahead of this international light-middleweight bout, which is scheduled for 10 rounds.
“I’ve been in the gym the whole time I’ve been out.
“I’ve got a smile on my face, I’m going to perform on Friday and I’m going to enjoy it, that’s the main thing.
“It’s going to be a hard nights work for my opponent.”
That opponent is Vrenozi, one year his senior at 29.
Albania’s number one, Xhulja has campaigned for most of his career in Italy, where he is based.
A tricky name for a writer to negotiate, he could also be a tricky rival for the Sunderland star to negotiate.
He has a very respectable record of 18 wins against only four defeats and, unlike Josh, has been busy, with his most recent outing being six weeks ago, when he won on points in an appearance at the York Hall.
However, Kelly, who has been working long and hard with coach Adam Booth, at his trainer’s HQ, believes he’ll be too good for Xhulja.
Energised by his move to Wasserman and Channel 5, the former WBA International welterweight (pictured left with his opponent on the right) is excited to be back and confident.
“I feel strong, I feel fit, and I feel like this is the move for me,” he said.
“It’s going to show on Friday.
“There are levels in this sport, and when that first bell goes, he knows he’ll be swimming in deep water and it’ll be too much.”
It looks a fair first test back for Kelly, whose record stands at 10-1-1.
Given a couple of long breaks between bouts plus the disruption Covid 19 brought to sport, this will only be Josh’s fifth contest in three years.
Should he triumph at Indigo at the O2, hopefully it will be the start of a busy and tumultuous stage of his career.
There is a fascinating headline act for the Channel 5 cameras to capture with Linus Udofia and Denzel Bentley colliding for the British middleweight championship.
Udofia, from Luton, has won all 17 of his pro fights while ex-champ Bentley, from Battersea, just along the Thames from the Greenwich venue, has 13 KO wins from his 17 appearances.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Leigh Dawney/Wasserman Boxing
