As though he was never away.
That’s Josh Kelly who made a stunning return to his place of work with a fourth-round stoppage of Peter Kramer in Liverpool.
The Sunderland star had been out of the ring for 481 days since his lone career defeat in a challenge for David Avanesyan’s European welterweight title in February 2021.
But he resumed in exciting and emphatic fashion on his debut for Wasserman and on free-to-air telly on Channel 5.
While Kramer might not be in his class as a boxer, the Hungarian is a tough man, who had only been stopped twice in his previous 18 bouts.
But Kelly not only dazzled in a contest scheduled for 10 rounds, he delivered some destructive punching which paved the way for the ending at two minutes, 31 seconds of the fourth.
“It’s good to be back and get a nice little performance in,” he said modestly.
“I need to keep myself busy with Kalle [Sauerland] and Channel 5 because inactivity can kill you.
“I’ve come back and show that I still have the tools.
“There are a few things I need to work on, I got clipped with a couple of shots that I won’t be getting clipped with in the future.
“I’ve worked so hard, I’ve moved up a weight, I feel strong, I’ve proved I can get a bigger guy out of there, a boxer who has competed at middleweight and super-middle.
“I feel strong, I believe in myself and I’ve got my business done.”
Kelly, whose first attempt on the comeback trail suffered a false start in London last month, showed no signs of rust at the M&S Bank Arena.
He was into his stride from the first ring of the bell and took control with his jab and double jab followed up with t some stinging rights to the head and body of the 32-year-old.
Kramer, a game opponent who went six rounds with Mark Dickinson in Newcastle in March, landed little but Josh was cut to the left eye in the second round though it was dealt with successfully in the blue corner between rounds.
Kelly jolted Kramer on several occasions and one of his explosive volleys had Peter rocking in the fourth, only for a low right to cause an interruption.
While referee John Latham gave Kramer time to recover it proved a stay of execution as ‘Pretty Boy’ tore back into his foe and after five brutal upper cuts on the spin, the official had seen enough and rescued the man from the red corner.
What a return for Kelly.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Chris Ridgeway/ Wasserman
