Josh Kelly vs. David Avanesyan - 20 February 2021

[Ruthless-RKO]

David Avanesyan will defend his EBU European Welterweight Title against undefeated rising star Josh Kelly in a bitter grudge match at The O2 in London on Saturday March 28, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hearn called him a former world champion.

I don’t regard him as one. He was Interim, then got promoted to Regular. All whilst Thurman was Super.

[skanksta]

Hearn over-selling Avenysan.
Good, solid gate-keeper. Would be some statement if The Pretty Boy could stop him.

[jamamb]

he did get stopped last fight by a guy i dont rate highly, i could see kelly doing it

[skanksta]

he did get stopped last fight by a guy i dont rate highly, i could see kelly doing it

Bit harsh - that Latvian is 20-0 (16) Olympian. Kelly's had 8 fights.
Maybe "some statement" is a bit Eddie Hearn, "stopping a granite-chinned former World Champ" tho

[jamamb]

that 20-0 guy doesnt impress me at all though and ive seen him labour to some decsons over not so good opponents. Kellys better i suspect. even if not as much power....more tools overall

its a sensible fight still . decent step up.

[knockout]

With the usual 3 round Matchroom head start David knows he will have to knock Kelly out.

[KiwiRider]

Can't say I've seen this dude. I've seen all of Kelly's fights bar the first one and he really needs a challenge.
Is this enough of a challenge for him?

[jamamb]

this guys okay. prob his best opponent considering molinas really just a journeyman these days. solid technically but no real impressive talents.

[IrishGuy]

Definitely a big step up and better a lot better then modern molina. I'm pretty sure i remember him running lamount Petterson relatively close, as in he took 4-5 rounds.

[leejonesjnr]

Boxing fans are ridiculous sometimes aren't they?
A contest between a man 8-0 lined up to box a man 23-3-1 who has held a title that most would consider a dream to own, being downplayed before they even step into the ring.

[jamamb]

Boxing fans are ridiculous sometimes aren't they?
A contest between a man 8-0 lined up to box a man 23-3-1 who has held a title that most would consider a dream to own, being downplayed before they even step into the ring.

not sure what the issue is really? basically you have ppl mostly saying avansyans a solid gatekeeper, a step up , etc. on pretty much any match up its perfectly legit to give perspective, in response to stuff like 'former world champion' etc

avanesyan got the interim wba regular title by winning a competitive decision over 45 year old shane mosley, in mosleys last fight before retirement (you mention the title but do you think we should be very impressed by that?), and he has never beat anyone close to being a serious contender....who is his best win? and in his last fight he was battered and stopped by a guy who himself was really more of a prospect

hes a good step up opponent for sure, and is a sound technician albeit pretty lacking in any notable speed, power, or raw talent. i think its a good fight for kelly for sure and a win will move kelly forward (unlike his last fight), but imo its fair game to question the legitimacy of avans world level credentials that are being billed.

[Ruthless-RKO]

This has come quite quick.. Been nearly a month since Usyk-Bellew card..

Hopefully Kelly is 100% ready.

[knockout]

I heard this is now off ? Anyone know why Kelly is out ??

[Ads_]

I heard this is now off ? Anyone know why Kelly is out ??

Taken ill apparently. Shame that was the fight I was looking forward to most.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Could go on Whyte-Chisora II card?

[Ruthless-RKO]

[MattCoke]

Could go on Whyte-Chisora II card?

The cynics amongst us might say this pull out was deliberate because the dec 22nd is lacking.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Could go on Whyte-Chisora II card?

The cynics amongst us might say this pull out was deliberate because the dec 22nd is lacking.

Yehh if it was, they shouldn’t have even done the weigh in.

[tobyh5]

Does Avanesyan gets paid because he weighed in?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Does Avanesyan gets paid because he weighed in?

Thing is.. had Kelly just pulled out a week ago, they could have kept Avanesyan on the card.. but we know it’s all a fix.. this will get made for Whyte-Chisora II..

Even though Kelly said he’ll return in 2019z

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Marsh Slams Adam Booth Over Josh Kelly vs. Avanesyan Fallout

David Avanesyan’s manager Neil Marsh was left fuming following the late fallout of a clash between his man and highly touted prospect Josh Kelly at the eleventh hour in Sheffield last Saturday.

Marsh, though, has come out and slammed Adam Booth, Kelly’s trainer and manager, following disagreements during the week, which he believed led to the cancellation of the bout.

He told BS: “I have plenty of respect for Adam Booth as a trainer, but none whatsoever for him as a man. All through the build-up we sensed nervousness from their side and the night before the weigh-in, I received a call that they wanted to adjust the fight from 12 rounds to 10, stipulating that is always should have been 10 rounds and that is the rules.

“They underestimated my experience with the WBA, who I have worked with as both a manager and promoter at all levels, so I got in contact with their European chief. I confirmed with them that it was a 12 round fight for a title, which was the contract submitted and the fight that they approved.

“I met with Adam Booth, I called him out and asked him why he wanted to cheat David out of two rounds? He replied it was always a 10 round fight, which again I called him out on and replied that he didn’t want the fight. He first threatened to lose the title to make it a 10 round non-title fight and then threatened to pull out of the fight there and then, unless it was changed to 10 rounds. In short, they bottled it!

“The next morning I saw Adam Booth leaving the hotel with some of his things and then later on in the rules meeting he barely inspected the gloves, basically picking the first ones he opened and throwing them in the box he didn’t open pair two and why would you not look at the options to give your fighter the best gloves to suit. I knew something was really off because this is strange behaviour. I knew even more that something was wrong."

Marsh told me he has no issue with how the incident was handled by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom boxing, adding that Avanesyan, a former WBA world champion with a record of 23-3-1, 11 wins coming early, still received some pay despite the fight not going ahead.

He also now has serious doubts about Kelly’s heart. The Sunderland man has impressed since turning over from the amateurs, where he represented Team GB at Rio 2016, racing to an 8-0 record, six wins coming inside the distance.
Marsh is adamant that despite the fallout, there is still an agreement in place for the fight to take place, hopefully early in 2019 and that Avanesyan will release all his frustrations on Kelly, following his late withdrawal. However, he added that he doesn’t know if Booth or Kelly will step up and take this fight now.

He added: “I’d like to thank Eddie Hearn for the opportunity he gave David. He payed the expenses for David’s training camp and gave him a few extra quid for Christmas with his family, for which we are very grateful. Everyone is talking about Josh Kelly’s new child, well David is in exactly the same boat and left his child for weeks to train for this fight.

“I wouldn’t advise one of my fighters to fight if they were legitimately ill, but the night before I saw Kelly in the hotel bar with all his mates laughing and joking. David was relaxed all week, in tremendous condition and ice cool at the weigh-in, so I don’t know whether that was when they finally decided.

“Booth treated me like I was stupid, probably because he doesn’t know me and I’ve never criticised people in public before. Business should be done behind closed doors, but you need to stand up for yourself and your fighter and your team.

“All fighters are warriors, but Josh Kelly has made me rethink that about him. It’s an insult to marquee fighters like Amir Khan and Kell Brook when Booth spouts off that he thinks Kelly beats them now. The way Booth has treated our team is nothing short of disgusting.

“Eddie Hearn has assured me that the fight will still happen and Josh Kelly better be ready for it. David will take out all his frustrations and pain of this withdrawal on him. He’s one of the most level headed people I’ve ever met, so when I saw him I was surprised, as I’ve never seen him as angry. I’m gutted for him and his trainer Carl Greaves, who is also highly respected. Boxing can be a really tough sport at times.”

[Coco]

Fair play to Hearn, the Hearns have always looked after fighters, away fighters too.
Doesn't look great on Kelly.

[leejonesjnr]

Not onboard with the bottle job narrative.
May well have been poorly handled but if Booth or Kelly were afraid the contest it wouldn’t have been made in the first place.