Josh Kelly has a new opponent for his homecoming night in Sunderland.
The 29-year-old will face KO specialist Placido Ramirez at the Beacon of Light on Saturday, December 16 after injury ruled out original opponent, Roarke Knapp.
It is a set-back for the Sunderland star, who is rated at number one in the rankings by the WBO, and is east four with the IBF and 12 in the WBC standings and with Roarke listed at 11 with the IBF and 13 with the WBC, much was riding on the outcome.
Getting a world-rated replacement was an impossible task at short notice but promoters Wasserman have swapped an African dangerman with one from South America.
Ramirez, like African light-middleweight champion Knapp, boasts a 70 per cent KO ratio, having stopped 17 of his victims in a 24-3 fight log.
Just as was the case with the intriguing Roarke confrontation, it is a job ‘Pretty Boy’ must complete with Wasserman, hopefully, delivering a major fight for their brilliant boxer in 2024.
Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing, said: “Out goes one dangerous opponent, and in comes another, for Josh Kelly’s huge homecoming show.
“The threat posed to Josh’s plans for next year remains high with Ramirez, who comes to the UK next week, with 17 knockouts on his record, nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“But Josh is the one of this country’s best fighters and the change of opponent has not changed his laser-focus on delivering a performance for his Sunderland fans to be proud of, but one that also sends out a statement of intent for next year.
“Make no mistake, 2024 is gearing up to be Josh Kelly’s year and a big win on December 16, on DAZN, sets that up perfectly.”
Ramirez might not possess a world top 15 rating but is no dummy. A former Colombian champion, he has what you would describe as ‘form’ in upsetting the home favourite.
Back in April he was in Poland to take on a Pole with a 22-1 record and introduced Lukasz Wierzbicki to the canvas in the fourth round.
That KO win was followed up by two more early nights back in Colombia with the 29-year-old winning inside three rounds and then one.
There was an early finish of a different kind last month when his bout against unbeaten Albanian Denis Nerju had to be abandoned after fans entered the ring in Tirana and hit Ramirez.
It will be shots from Kelly, rather than the spectators, he will need two avoid on December 16.
The show will also feature another Sunderland fight ace in Travis Waters, who has raced to 4-0 as a professional, his second early win coming in October in Houghton with a third-round stoppage of James McCarthy.
Another VIP Boxing prospect Ben Marksby is also in action at the Beacon of Light, with the unbeaten Darlington boxer having reeled off eight straight wins.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
