Sunderland Boxer Josh Kelly Gears Up for Home Turf Fight
Sunderland boxer Josh Kelly is set to take to the ring at the Utilita Arena Newcastle on Friday, June 6, to face off against Romanian opponent Flavius Biea. The 31-year-old middleweight has been training hard for the big fight and is confident of securing a win on his home turf.
In an interview with Chronicle Live, Kelly said: "I think my best performances come up here in the North East. There’s something about it, something in the air. I come back up here and I feel at home, I feel at ease, so yeah, I feel good." Kelly, who has a record of 18 fights, 16 wins, one draw, and one loss, is known for his showmanship and flair in the ring.
Kelly has been making headlines recently after calling out Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr following their historic contest in April. Kelly said he’d probably ‘knock Benn out’ and would ‘stand Eubank on his head and outbox him’. When asked about his future opponents, Kelly said: "I prepare the same way every time, if it isn’t broken then don’t fix it, but being somewhere I know well can definitely help. I just like it being loud and rowdy in there, I don’t like the dead atmospheres, I’m a fight night fighter for sure."
Kelly, a Sunderland fan, also spoke about his love for the Black Cats and his recent trip to watch them play in the Championship Playoff final at Wembley. "I’m a Sunderland fan, and I support the club, but football is football, and boxing is a totally different sport to be honest," he said. "A lot of the lads who I’m with put it to one side, as you’re entertaining people and putting your life on the line, but I’m always going to be on the Sunderland side."
Kelly’s passion for boxing and his desire to be a role model for young people in the North East was also evident in the interview. "People can expect to see a big show on Friday, I like to put on a show, and I want the kids especially to think ‘yeah, I want to box like him’, because they are the future, and that’s how I got into boxing and got interested in it in the first place," he said. "100%, I want to be a role model, as there have been some really good fighters out of Sunderland, and I feel like I’m one of the best that has come out of the North East."
The fight against Flavius Biea will be part of the Fast & Furious fight card, which will be shown on Channel 5 on Friday, June 6. The undercard is set to begin at 7pm, with Josh Kelly’s ring walk expected at around 10.30pm. Fans can expect a thrilling performance from Kelly, who is determined to make the most of his prime and put on a show for his home crowd.
As Chronicle Live reported earlier, Kelly has been training hard for the fight and is confident of securing a win. With his passion for boxing and his desire to be a role model, Kelly is sure to put on a great show for his fans at the Utilita Arena Newcastle.
In related news, Sunderland AFC is gearing up for a new season in the Premier League, and Kelly has expressed his hopes for the team’s success. "The Premier League is always going to be tough, and Newcastle has grown so much as a team, but I think derbies always bring out something different," he said. "It’s not just like a normal game, there’s something about, the emotions are higher and people make more mistakes, so it’s always up for grabs."
Kelly’s commitment to being a role model and his passion for boxing and Sunderland AFC make him a compelling figure in the world of sport. As he prepares to take to the ring at the Utilita Arena Newcastle, fans will be eagerly anticipating his performance and hoping that he will bring home a win.
