European welterweight champion David Avanesyan 27-3-1 (15) proved a bridge too far for former British Olympian Josh ‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly 10-1-1 (6) at The SSE Arena in Wembley, London on Saturday night.
The fight, which was postponed three times after its originally scheduled date in 2018, more than lived up to expectations.
The 26-year-old Kelly started fast, using his speed and sharpshooting to trouble Avanesyan, stunning him with a left hook during the second frame. But the rugged Russian, 32, rampaged his way back into the fight with his relentless pressure and power, cutting Kelly above the right eye and on the back of the head.
During the fifth Avanesyan was able to drag a tiring Kelly into a firefight and went on with the job in the sixth, clubbing him to the canvas twice with right hands and forcing his trainer Adam Booth to throw in the towel at the 2:15 mark.
“I waited a long time for this fight,” Avanesyan said after the fight. “This was my night. It was a big fight. I know boxing likes us to speak bad for show, but I know (Kelly) worked hard.”
Trainer Carl Greaves added he knew what the hardnosed veteran was capable of.
“I knew exactly how it was going to go. I’ve spent over five years with David now. I’ve seen talented kids that can keep him off a certain length of time, but he finds a way every time,” Greaves said.
“I was so confident in this fight because I knew it was going to go like that.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn praised Kelly for taking the step up in class but said the night belonged to Avanesyan.
“Sometimes you come across a guy that will not be denied, that’s too strong, that has the will beyond others. Tonight, that was David Avanesyan,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said.
“I said in the build-up, I’ve never seen two camps so confident. You have to say one thing, Josh Kelly had a wonderful camp, he was in the shape of life, he couldn’t have been better in the ring tonight. But this man would not be denied.
“Avanesyan was too tough. He comes from some serious stuff. He deserves his success because it hasn’t always been easy. What we saw tonight was an elite welterweight, a world-class welterweight, against a really good prospect who I believe can be a world-class fighter, but (Kelly) was just outmanned, outhustled, and outfought.
“He took the step up. I hope people give him the credit for that. We know in boxing, too many fighters, teams, managers, advisers, lawyers, don’t want to step up. You need to take a step up. If you believe you can win, you should. Josh Kelly took the step up, and he should be applauded for that. He came to win, but tonight belongs to David Avanesyan.”
In the main support bout rising welterweight Florian Marku 8-0-1 (6) had to overcome a sixth-round knockdown to stop the game Rylan Charlton 6-1-1 (3). Charlton was hurt himself a number of times during the contest before dropping the switch-hitting Marku with a left hook, but eventually ran out of gas to be stopped on his feet when his corner threw in the towel at the 2:18 mark.
Mexican Gabriel Valenzuela 23-2-1 (13) upset Robbie Davis Jr 20-3 (13) to take a 10-round majority decision and claim the vacant IBF Intercontinental junior welterweight title. Valenzuela had Davis on the deck in round three and rocked him throughout the fight but was docked a point for hitting on the break in the fourth. The scores were 96-95, 96-95 and 94-94.
At featherweight Jordan Gill 25-1 (7) claimed the vacant WBA International title against Cesar Juarez 25-10 (19) by unanimous decision over 10 rounds with scores of 98-92, 98-93 and 96-94.
