Josh Kelly vs. David Avanesyan - 20 February 2021

[PredatorHayds]

Kelly needs to stop the showboating and be more active.
I thought the draw with Robinson was deserved but he was the quality operator. 5-10 punches more a round from being a wide decision.
I can see Kelly having ‘fear’ going into this one. That should be enough to keep him focused and active.
I’m going Kelly clear on the cards. Around the 116-112, 117-111 mark.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

BBBofC have cancelled all events until June.

Some may consider doing them behind closed doors.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Avanesyan vs. Kelly on March 28 at the O2 Arena: This fight date is now canceled, and the card will now be merged into another fight card. Hearn previously spoke about wanting to merge the Kelly-Avanesyan card with the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Dereck Chisora event on May 23. That’s likely what Hearn will do. With that said, the Usyk-Chisora fight card could see the date change as well. Right now, it’s still set for that May 23 date, but if the coronavirus problem continues without any retreat from the cases, it’s likely that the Usk vs. Chiora card will need to be postponed until a later date.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Russian boxer David Avanesyan said that he regrets the cancellation of his upcoming defense due to the threat of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“My fight has been canceled due to recent events related to the spread of coronavirus. We can see that all of the mass events in the world of sports are also being canceled, but this does not take away the regret that I feel, because I gave a lot of strength and energy to this important preparation for myself. In any case, the safety and health of people is the most important factor in any business. Take care of yourself. And most importantly, do not panic," Avanesyan said.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[margaret thatcher]

Josh took really serious measures to duck Ava this time

[Ruthless-RKO]

Josh took really serious measures to duck Ava this time

The corona is his fault???

[margaret thatcher]

Let's put it this way, it was either Josh Kelly or Georve Groves, and the night corona started Georgy was locked in his room doing his weekly 'cry out' about the Froch losses

[Ruthless-RKO]

Josh Kelly and David Avanesyan have quite a lot of history for two guys who haven’t actually fought.

The welterweights were first set to meet in Dec. 2018, but Kelly fell ill and pulled out of the fight on truly last-minute notice, meaning Avanesyan didn’t fight at all as scheduled. Then, after Avanesyan bashed his way through three straight wins in Spain and won the European welterweight title, the fight was set for Mar. 28 of this year, only to be one of the many bouts that was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.

But the 26-year-old “Pretty Boy” Kelly said Sunday on Twitter that he’s recently spoken with promoter Eddie Hearn, and that the fight with the 32-year-old Russian veteran will be rescheduled as his next fight.



Kelly (10-0-1, 6 KO) was an amateur standout for Great Britain, winning bronze at the 2015 European Games and competing at the 2016 Olympics. He’s been met with sort of mixed reviews, if you will, as a professional, with his style leading some to believe he may flame out against more serious opposition. He went to a 10-round draw in June 2019 against Ray Robinson, but to be totally fair Robinson is a veteran spoiler, the sort of guy who can be a pain for just about anyone.

Avanesyan (26-3-1, 14 KO) is on a good run at the moment, but a pretty basic, meat-and-potatoes sort of fighter, a solid professional who can do real damage at the European level and fight a bit at the world level, but certainly isn’t elite. His losses have come to Andrey Klimov, way back in 2009 in Avanesyan’s second pro fight, Lamont Peterson in 2017, and Egidijus Kavaliauskas in 2018. He also beat a faded Shane Mosley in 2016, which turned out to be Mosley’s last fight.

This is a really good matchup, though. It seemed dangerous for Kelly in 2018 when it was meant to happen first, and all Avanesyan has done since then is perform really well in three fights. It’s a proving grounds fight for Kelly, and a chance for Avanesyan to maybe work his way into another crack at a world title if he can win again.

[gregregegg]

This thread has been going for 2 years and i still don't belive josh kelly will fight him next..

[Ruthless-RKO]

They should be slapping this on an undercard..

Have it on AJ-Pulev or something..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

David Avanesyan will finally defend his EBU European Welterweight Title against undefeated rising star Josh Kelly in a bitter grudge match on Saturday January 30 at a venue to be confirmed, live on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.S. and more than 200 countries and territories.

The rivals were due to meet at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield back in December 2018 before an illness forced Kelly to withdraw from the contest on the morning of the fight, leading to "bottle job" jibes from Avanesyan's manager Neil Marsh as bad blood boiled over between the camps.

Russia’s Avanesyan (26-3-1, 14 KOs) dealt with the disappointment by firmly establishing himself as ‘the man’ of the European Welterweight scene, ripping the 147lbs title from Bilbao’s Kerman Lejarraga on away soil in March before destroying him in the opening round of their September rematch.

The former World Champion made light work of Jose del Rio last time out in Barcelona, crushing the Spaniard in the opening round, and now finds himself on the cusp of another World Title shot should he inflict a first defeat on Kelly.

Kelly (10-0-1, 6 KOs), a Rio 2016 Olympian from Sunderland, outclassed the previously undefeated Pole Przemyslaw Runowski at The O2 in April last year before drawing with Ray Robinson two months later on his US debut in New York.

'PBK' decisioned Nicaragua's Wiston Campos in his last outing in Phoenix to set up his long-awaited showdown with Avanesyan, and the North East talent is determined to silence his critics by producing a career-best win in January.

A meeting between the pair was rescheduled for March 2020 at The O2 in London only for the outbreak of the coronavirus in the UK to scupper their plans once more, but the rivals have a chance to settle their feud once and for all next month in a fight that has been brewing for over two years.

“This fight has been a long time coming and it's finally time to silence my doubters," said Kelly. "He is the favourite heading into the fight. He has proved how good he is in his last three fights. It’s going to be a good fight, but one I’m quietly confident about.

“I feel like this is a turning point in my career. When I win, then I take it to the next level. A lot in the future is lying on this fight. Two fights ago I fought Ray Robinson, which was a massive step-up. I don’t think people realised how big of a step-up that was, but now I’m fighting Avanesyan, I should get the credit I deserve.”

"What a way to start the year with this heavily-anticipated grudge match," said Matchroom Sport Managing Director Eddie Hearn. "This is a huge step up for PBK and Ava has looked like a wrecking ball over the past few years. In 2021 we are going for gold and this is the perfect way to start the year - expect a thrilling fight!"

Adam Smith, Sky Sports' Head of Boxing Development said: “David Avanesyan’s European Title defence against Josh Kelly is a superb start to our Sky Sports schedule for 2021.

“We’ve followed Josh Kelly’s exciting career since the very start, but now he faces a real acid test in the form of Avanesyan, a dangerous puncher, who has big ambitions of his own.

“Conor Benn will be watching his British rival closely, having called for a big domestic clash later in the year. But before that, PBK must produce a dazzling performance in a crucial European title clash.”

[emallini]

Going to be funny to see people jump back on the Kelly bandwagon after this fight. He wins clear.

[Ruthless-RKO]

3rd time lucky..

It’s gone from a regular undercard fight to a grudge match. I remember when it first didn’t happen after the weight in. Kelly pulled out..

They been at each other. Was supposed to fight this year.. but COVID hit.

Now a genuine main event worthy fight.

I reckon Ava knocks him out..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Going to be funny to see people jump back on the Kelly bandwagon after this fight. He wins clear.

He should’ve lost to Robinson. He’s obviously gonna take this fight more serious. He can’t help his RJJ antics..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Restarted the poll..

[emallini]

Going to be funny to see people jump back on the Kelly bandwagon after this fight. He wins clear.

He should’ve lost to Robinson. He’s obviously gonna take this fight more serious. He can’t help his RJJ antics..

I disagree.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Going to be funny to see people jump back on the Kelly bandwagon after this fight. He wins clear.

He should’ve lost to Robinson. He’s obviously gonna take this fight more serious. He can’t help his RJJ antics..

I disagree.

Would Josh Kelly be able to do to Kerman what Ava did?

Maybe.. He've moved up now anway.. This is still a good fight.. Probably a better fight now than it was 2 years ago.

[keirw]

He should’ve lost to Robinson. He’s obviously gonna take this fight more serious. He can’t help his RJJ antics..

I disagree.

Would Josh Kelly be able to do to Kerman what Ava did?

Maybe.. He've moved up now anway.. This is still a good fight.. Probably a better fight now than it was 2 years ago.

No, but he is a different type of fighter.
He will not be KOing any decent euro level fighters the way Ava has done.

He could well bet guys like Ava and Kerman though, we just don't know until he steps up to that level.

[skanksta]

This is a great fight.
The fact it's so good is what hints at TPB's ceiling - time was I thought this was a gimme next step on to WT contention, but now it's happening it's tough to call.

I'd take Kelly by close dec

[maverick23]

Rylan Charlton vs Florian Marku has been announced for the undercard.

2 really good, arguably 50/50 fights, on this show.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Rylan Charlton vs Florian Marku has been announced for the undercard.

2 really good, arguably 50/50 fights, on this show.

Hope he don't turn it into a PPV..

[mickey1975]

Rylan Charlton vs Florian Marku has been announced for the undercard.

2 really good, arguably 50/50 fights, on this show.

Hope he don't turn it into a PPV..

If he does I’m going to smash my Sky box up. That would be outrageous.

[maverick23]

Rylan Charlton vs Florian Marku has been announced for the undercard.

2 really good, arguably 50/50 fights, on this show.

Hope he don't turn it into a PPV..

If he does I’m going to smash my Sky box up. That would be outrageous.

Of course he won’t. Eddie’s loves a pound note but he’s not stupid.