A future world champion. Both boxer and promoter were unified and confident in their prediction.
Josh Kelly is convinced of his credentials, so too Kalle Sauerland after watching him take a mere 11 and a half minutes to triumph on his debut for promoters Wasserman.
Kelly handed out a boxing lesson to game-but-outclassed opponent Peter Kramer live on Channel 5 in Liverpool on Friday night.
The Sunderland boxer is not going to win a world title because he gave the Hungarian a lesson, but it was ample enough evidence that the fire burns brightly in the 28-year-old. Even his detractors could not question his skills.
He needed Friday night’s bout – he had not fought since a challenge or David Avanesyan’s European welterweight title in February 2021 and had not won since December 2020, when he outpointed Wiston Campos in Phoenix.
“I’m here to win a world title,” said the 28-year-old, who is now up at light-middle or super-welter if you prefer. “I’m not here for anything else.”
‘Pretty Boy’ is set to box again at the end of next month, when Wasserman and Channel 5 will head to Newcastle.
There he’ll be looking to build on the exciting performance against Kramer who was stopped on two minutes, 31 seconds of the fourth round.
“Round after round, I could feel myself getting sharper,” said Josh. “I wanted to put a statement out there with my jab, and it worked well to break him down to the point he started taking a few too many shots.”
It was his first appearance for the Sauerlands, Kalle and Nisse, the men behind Wasserman and, famously, behind the Klitschkos.
Kalle was full of optimism when he spoke to Channel 5.
“This is a future world champion, make no mistake about it,” he said.
“We’ve got time, there’s no pressure, we’ll go along our path.
“He’s been one of the most-talked-about British prospects for so many years.“He had a set-back, but he’s come back, worked very hard with a great team around him – Adam Booth is one of the best trainers in the world and I’m sure he’s going to win a world championship for this country.
“The weight? He’ll win at super-welter for me.”
A world title shot will be something for 2023, but what next? Newcastle will probably be a step up from Kramer, someone with a ranking or a bout for a belt.
The very good names of Lewis Ritson and Troy Williamson have been mentioned by pundits and fans as potential opposition, though both are members of a rival promoter, Probellum.
Ritson, an old Sky stablemate and former amateur rival of Kelly, is making his way back nicely at light-welter after losing a world title eliminator last summer.
Kelly said he would be open to offers at welter for “big titles, big fights, big money” but a Tyne-Wear derby would take a huge effort to get down to 147lbs and would involve ‘The Sandman’ moving up.
It looks unlikely but, in boxing, sometimes the unexpected comes along.
Williamson is a man very much on a high after two fight of the year contenders for the British light-middleweight title – a war to win it from Ted Cheeseman and then a titanic battle in his first defence against Mason Cartwright.
But ‘Trojan’ is scheduled to defend his belt for the second time before the end of the year against JJ Metcalfe.
These are interesting times but one thing for sure is Josh Kelly is back.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Chris Ridgway/ Wasserman
