Ringside Report: Josh Kelly Moves Closer to a World Title Fight

Ringside Report: Josh Kelly Moves Closer to a World Title Fight

By Matt Elliott

Josh Kelly moved a step closer to a world title fight with a unanimous points victory over Argentinian Gabriel Corzo last night, the judges scoring it 117-110 and 120-107 x 2. The fight, for Kelly’s WBO International super-welterweight title, which he won two fights ago against Lucas Brian Ariel Bastida, headlined an entertaining night of action at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle.

At Friday’s weigh-in Corzo, who was unbeaten in his eighteen professional fights to date, was full of aggression, but when the bell rang to start the fight and there was just him and Kelly face-to-face in the centre of the ring, that adrenaline had seemingly evaporated; what followed was a boxing lesson. Kelly danced around his opponent, biding his time before unleashing combinations that rocked Corzo on more than one occasion. Every now and again Curzo would fight back, like someone swatting away an annoying fly, but that was about as much as he offered, as Kelly stalked him around the ring, working to the body and then the head as he looked to wear down his opponent, who quickly realised the levels of the fighter he was in with. The only disappointment for Kelly will be his failure to stop Corzo, although you have to credit the Argentinian for his resilience, even though Kelly perhaps lacked the conviction at times to finish the fight within the distance.  

Kelly will now hope that a world title shot is in sight. With all the belts in the division currently held by Jermell Charlo and following his decision to step up to super-middleweight to face Canelo Alvarez, the belts are likely to fracture, which could present Kelly with his opportunity, something that seemed a long way off after his 2021 defeat to David Avanesyan. Another fight that Kelly has actively calling for is a domestic clash with Conor Benn, although that would be reliant upon the latter clearing his name following his failed drug tests last year.

In the other title fight of the night, Qais Ashfaq took on Liam Dillon for the vacant British super-featherweight title. Dillon came into the fight undefeated, whilst Asfaq had just one loss on his record. On paper, this had the potential to be fight of the night, and it certainly delivered as both men left everything in the ring. Dillon started as the aggressor and kept a high tempo throughout the fight, as he twice knocked down Ashfaq en route to a split decision victory, with scores of 112-115, 115-112 and 117-110. Ashfaq was in the fight throughout and when he cut Dillon in round five, it gave him hope as Dillon’s eye started to swell, but there was no evidence it impaired his vision, as his pace and punch output ultimately won him the fight and the title.

Chloe Watson had already been ordered to face Justine Lallemand for the vacant EBU flyweight title, but a slip-up against Belen Valdenbenito could have thrown that into jeopardy. There was no need for concern, though, as Watson arguably put in her best performance so far, dictating the early pace and maintaining it until the final bell to take an 80-72 points victory. Watson, who fights with a smile on her face but punches with spite, will be hoping to get a date sorted soon for her showdown with Lallemand, which will land on a future Wasserman card.

The only heavyweight fight of the night saw Steven Robinson take on Franklin Ignatius over eight rounds. It was not a fight that will live long in the memory, as both men spent more time holding than punching, but ultimately it was Ignatius who did the better work and that was enough for him to secure a 79-74 points decision.

Samuel Antwi got his second consecutive victory following that defeat to Ekow Essuman last September, with a third-round stoppage of Ruben Anglulo. The Colombian man started well, but Antwi quickly gained control, and after a flurry of punches, it was a body shot that put Angulo down, and he failed to recover as the referee’s count reached ten. Antwi is scheduled to fight Mason Cartwright in September, with that likely to be for the vacant British super-welterweight title. The winner of that could find themselves facing Troy Williamson in their first defence. Williamson made his return following last December’s defeat to Kelly in which he lost the British title, taking on Ramiro Blanco over six rounds. It was a gutsy performance from the Nicaraguan, who survived a late onslaught from Williamson, but ultimately, the Darlington man had too much and took a 60-54 points decision.

Another Darlington-born fighter, Ben Marksby, who is part of the Tenacity Boxing stable, moved to 7-0, beating Spain’s Ricardo Fernandez 59-55 on points. Marksby was always in control of the fight, but Fernandez proved a resolute opponent and never looked in danger of being stopped.

There was an impressive debut victory for Birtley’s Owen Rees, who faced Romanian’s Marius Istrate. Despite seventeen previous defeats, Istrate had never been stopped, but that run came to an end as Rees showed why there is a lot of hype surrounding him. He was on the front foot from the first bell, mixing head and body shots and landing combinations at will. He put Istrate down in round one, and when he did the same in round three, the referee waved off the contest. Rees is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Denmark’s Oliver Zaren also impressed in the night’s opening fight, taking a 40-36 points decision against Ireland’s Jay Byrne. Trained by Mikkel Kessler, Zaren looks like one to watch in the super-middleweight division, and he moved to 9-0 with this victory.

There were also victories for local fighters Tom Summerbell, who defeated Dmitri Protkunas 40-36 and Kai Richmond, who moved to 4-0 after his opponent Karl Sampson was unable to come out for the third round due to injury. Codie Smith maintained his unbeaten start to professional life moving to 2-0 with a routine victory over Francisco Rodriguez, winning every round to take a 40-36 decision.