Josh Kelly v Liam Smith. It is probably one of the fights that has NOT been mentioned. Until now.
But the exciting English pair will meet on a blockbuster of a show at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, September 21, when Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois meet for the IBF world heavyweight title.
Before and after Kelly blew away Placido Ramirez in his home city of Sunderland in December, any amount of top names were thrown into the mix regarding ‘Pretty Boy’.
It would be fair to say that Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith was not one of them, but it is a match-up that certainly excites on the undercard of the Riyadh Season, as Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn collaborate in the capital this Autumn.
Kelly is in the top 10 of three world sanctioning bodies at super-welterweight, or light-middle if you are of a certain age, but the opportunity to tackle Smith on a show of this magnitude has prompted the 30-year-old to move into the middleweights.
“I’m a big 154 fighter so 160 will suit me,” said Kelly.
“I have nothing but respect for Liam, he has had a great career, he put Liverpool on the map – him and his brothers – and there is no bad blood between us, it’s just business
“Stylistically it’s one of the best match-ups on the card.”
Kelly, as stated above, is in a great position in terms of world status, but this is a huge-profile event.
Smith, it would appear, is a boxer on the wrong side of his peak. Having stopped Chris Eubank in sensational style in their massive clash in January 2023, he was taken apart by his rival in their re-match in the September.
But Smith, who boasts a 33-4-1 record, insists that Kelly, his coach and Adam Booth, or anyone for that matter, should not dismiss his chances.
“This is a great fight on a huge card,” said the 35-year-old.
“It’s a fight that not many people thought about but now it’s announced, they can see it’s an interesting fight. My focus is on Josh Kelly. I am massively confident of winning.
“Josh and Adam probably feel like they are getting me at the right time. Fighters have made that mistake before, and they are doing the same thing.
“Josh has got to step up at some point and this might be his right time, but people have thought they are getting me at the right before – Anthony Fowler did so after I fought in Russia.
“I feel refreshed now, we have long enough to go, this has lit the fire in my belly.”
Oleksandr Usyk announced on Tuesday that he had vacated the IBF belt, which means Joshua can regain one of the world titles he previously held if he defeats Dubois, who has been upgraded from IBF interim title holder to the IBF champion.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Wasserman
