BoxRec

Press Release

After the dismantling of Peter Kramer in Liverpool, Josh Kelly (11-1-1, 7 KOs) wastes no time in returning to action as he leads the North East takeover on July 30 in Newcastle. Live on Channel 5, Kelly faces ‘El Tornado’ Lucas Bastida (18-1-1, 10 KOs).

The calculated and methodical win for Kelly last time out showed the boxing intelligence of Sunderland’s ‘PBK’, but Bastida will be coming to provide a much sterner test at super welterweight. Having suffered defeat only once, the Argentine fighter will be coming to try and spoil the party in the main event.

It will be an eagerly contested fight, as both men hold similar records. Both fighters suffering one loss and one draw, as well as sharing around a 50% KO ratio too. Both men also in their twenties, with Kelly the more experienced at 28-years-old. It is the opportunity for two young and hungry fighters to steal the show on an electric Saturday July 30 event in Newcastle, and put themselves into contention for serious title honors.

“He is a tough South American who has plenty of experience for a fighter who is 25-years-old. To only have one loss on his record shows how tough he is, there’s no doubt he’ll be coming to win,” said Kelly.

“He’s someone who is going to give me the hard rounds I need to get back into the mix for big fights and major titles. It’s very much the same from me though – I’m coming to show my class and I’ll be looking to get him out, 100%.”

Argentine Bastida will be coming to conduct his own takeover as he’ll be looking to capitalise on a TKO win in a South American title bout in his last fight. He will also be confident in the fact he will be the taller fighter, as the 25-year-old stands at 6’1” and edges Kelly with 8 more rounds under his belt.

After analyzing the career of Kelly, it is Bastida who believes he will come out on top having found what he believes to be is the winning formula for this fight.

“Josh Kelly has Olympic experience, he’s a good boxer and very fast. I saw in his fight against Avanesyan that he got knocked down, and then he got stopped, so I think the key to victory will be to go to war from the beginning of the fight,” said Bastida.

“For me this is my first fight abroad, I’m a warrior in life so I’ll be going to war as soon as the bell rings.”

A Super Lightweight showdown has been added to the card, with Harlem Eubank (14-0, 6KOs) squaring off against Tom ‘Fazza’ Farrell (21-5, 5 KOs). Both fighters will be brimming with confidence off the back of wins in their last bouts.

Farrell defeated a potential Nigerian nightmare in Olaide Fijabi at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool earlier this month, as he answered all the questions to outpoint his opponent in a hard-fought contest. Having come through the six-round fight, Farrell will be looking to call upon a similar approach to overcome an undefeated Harlem Eubank.

A second-round KO proved to be one of the highlights of the night in London on May 13 when Eubank caught his opponent flush to end the fight against Sean Dodd. The Brighton man continues heading in an upward trajectory in a professional career that is yet to taste defeat.

With each performance, Eubank continues to show his development and ever-growing intentions for bigger fights and bigger honors. The 28-year-old will now be looking for another statement win against a tough Farrell to put his name in contention for titles.

Never heard of Bastida, or any of his opponents.

Who knows how good he is.

Not a fan of the Eubank/Farrell fight - I don’t rate Farrell much at all and think Eubank stops him fairly early.

Hopefully they’ll show the heavyweight fight on channel 5.

I guess this will clash with the Sky show with CBS/Chamberlain and the Olympians. I’ll be watching that instead I think.

https://newcastle-eagles.com/news/josh- ... n-july-30/

Star studded??

It should have been Kelly V Troy Williamson which would have been a massive NE fight for British title. Awful card imo Eubank walks through Farrell without breaking sweat and the Kelly opponent is as poor as you get for a TV headliner

The Sauerlands need to pack it in with these shows. At least Meaty Mick put on competitive scraps.

Why have Channel 5 ditched the chunky one in favour of this gash?

Not a good card.

Ch 5 should have keep Mick and rotate them.

Effin’ Bastida!

steve689 wrote: ↑06 Jul 2022, 11:39 The Sauerlands need to pack it in with these shows. At least Meaty Mick put on competitive scraps.

Why have Channel 5 ditched the chunky one in favour of this gash?

Mick has a habit of getting the sack from tv despite regularly putting out great content. How you lose ITV 1 after Froch-Pascal with Fury debuting on the undercard is beyond me.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑06 Jul 2022, 12:11

steve689 wrote: ↑06 Jul 2022, 11:39 The Sauerlands need to pack it in with these shows. At least Meaty Mick put on competitive scraps.

Why have Channel 5 ditched the chunky one in favour of this gash?

Mick has a habit of getting the sack from tv despite regularly putting out great content. How you lose ITV 1 after Froch-Pascal with Fury debuting on the undercard is beyond me.

The TV stations don’t care about great content. They care ad revenue which is driven by viewer numbers and demographic of those people. They must have thought they could get better elsewhere.

Why are they putting on shows that belong in sports halls in big arenas?

I can’t see how they can be breaking even at best.

Probably 1500 in the echo for the last one.

Josh Kelly is one of those fighters most people will love seeing splashed on the canvas.
And the great thing about it will be that it’ll more often than he’d hope.

chiggsy wrote: ↑06 Jul 2022, 16:46 Why are they putting on shows that belong in sports halls in big arenas?

I can’t see how they can be breaking even at best.

Probably 1500 in the echo for the last one.

I don’t believe this is in the actually Newcastle Arena.

It’s a 3.5k capacity basketball arena that the Newcastle Eagles play in.

So it’s not a big arena.

The Liverpool show should have been at the Olympia mind you.

kelly looked good in last fight yea it was an easy fight, but he looked sharp up for it he had snap speed in then punches looked dangerous he is a talent good see back in again soon expect a ko from kelly

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑06 Jul 2022, 16:54

chiggsy wrote: ↑06 Jul 2022, 16:46 Why are they putting on shows that belong in sports halls in big arenas?

I can’t see how they can be breaking even at best.

Probably 1500 in the echo for the last one.

I don’t believe this is in the actually Newcastle Arena.

It’s a 3.5k capacity basketball arena that the Newcastle Eagles play in.

So it’s not a big arena.

The Liverpool show should have been at the Olympia mind you.

Ah right yea that sounds about right then to be fair.

Dreadful card. Are the brothers skint ?

North East prospect Pat McCormack added to the show

Spud wrote: ↑08 Jul 2022, 09:09 North East prospect Pat McCormack added to the show

Hmmm. Wonder if Wasserman will look to do that more with Probellum fighters.

Kelly always looks good against guys who are unable to duck after three left hooks have landed. It’s the step ups that have posed problems. Which is natural of course.

Two observations from me. I don’t think he’s in love with boxing but just happens to be good at it.

Secondly, the blood loss against Avenesyan was a little observed point of the fight. He was pissing claret which must’ve affected his stamina reserves and strength. Along with the fact that Ava was laying it on him heavily!

Press Release | Pat McCormack Returns

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Silver Medallist Pat McCormack (1-0, 1 KO) will go in search of his second professional victory as he joins a night of free-to-air boxing on Saturday July 30 at Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, live on Channel 5.

It was a vicious left hook to the body that halted his opponent last time out. The first-round stoppage gave the Sunderland boxer a dream professional debut that he will be looking to emulate in front of a lively Newcastle crowd.

The Super Lightweight has an unbelievable pedigree from his time in the amateurs with Team GB that has made him one of the most exciting British boxing prospects in recent memory. Alongside his Olympic Silver medal, McCormack has claimed European and Commonwealth Gold and World Silver medals. Performing for the first time on a terrestrial television, the 27-year-old cannot wait to showcase his skills and add another win to his record.

“To make my professional debut in front of all my family and friends in Newcastle was an unforgettable experience. And so, to be back home in the city, fighting in my second pro fight, is something I can’t wait for,” said McCormack.

"Being live in front of a big audience on Channel 5 is a great platform at this stage of my career, and I want to showcase what I have been working on in the gym and make a real statement."

Fellow Sunderland boxer Josh Kelly (11-1-1, 7 KOs) leads the line up in Newcastle as he returns to the ring following an impressive stoppage victory over Peter Kramer, watched by over 1 million viewers on Channel 5, to take on tough Argentinian contender Lucas Bastida (18-1-1, 10 KOs).

A card also features the exciting Super Lightweight clash between Harlem Eubank (14-0, 6 KOs) and Tom Farrell (21-5, 5 KOs), a homecoming fight for former Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers (1-0), a battle between undefeated Heavyweight prospects Hosea Stewart (2-0) and Franklin Ignatius (3-0, 1 KO), plus an array of local fighters ready to prove the North East as a hotbed for boxing talent.

Straight out of Rocky IV, Heavyweight ‘Drago’ Steve Robinson (4-1, 3 KOs) will be hunting for another blockbuster finish when the 6’7” giant from Newcastle looks to provide a finish worthy of his nickname.

The stage is set for Newcastle’s Jordan Barker-Porter (3-1) to make it three-straight wins as the 28-year-old Lightweight returns to action in her home city.

Darlington’s Ben Marksby (4-0) can continue his undefeated streak at Super Lightweight as he fights for the first time in the North East, while future prospect Kai Richmond (1-0) will aim to pick up where he left off after a comprehensive professional debut for the 22-year-old from Spennymoor earlier this year.

lol, bastida being hyped for having fought 8 more rounds than kelly has, jesus

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑08 Jul 2022, 20:19 lol, bastida being hyped for having fought 8 more rounds than kelly has, jesus

Gotta love the press releases.

Gotta sell the things!!

I will now watch the show because of McCormack being on.

I am told reliably he is a TOP prospect and is going to the top

Press Release | WBO Regional Belt at Stake

Josh Kelly (11-1-1, 7 KOs) will be counting on the support of the North East to get him over the line when he competes against Lucas Bastida (18-1-1, 10 KOs) for the WBO International Super Welterweight Championship on Saturday July 30 at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, free-to-air and live on Channel 5.

This is a hance for one of these fighters to break into the world rankings with the WBO. After a dominant performance against Peter Kramer, Kelly will look to carry that confidence to cement himself into the world rankings.

Alongside the reward of a world ranking also comes big fights. With the division ruled by undisputed champion Jermell Charlo, Kelly will be looking to reintroduce himself dramatically onto the global scene of the super welterweight division.

Now Kelly not only has the thrill of fighting in front of his own, but a title on the line certainly adds any final elements of motivation needed. Having been given the news, Kelly was elated and confident that this was only the start of big things to come.

“I'm buzzing, and I’m ready. There's no reason to sugar-coat the fact that my opponent will be putting even more into training to come and try to cause an upset,” said Kelly. “We are covering all bases in camp, and when you have world title aspirations you make sure you're preparing like a world champion.”

He continues, “The WBO belt adds that additional spice to things, and it's about me going out there and being Josh Kelly that will see it leaving the arena with me in front of my friends and family. We are the North East, and we don't do things in half-measures. On fight night, i'll be there to push the pace and show why this will be the first belt of many.”

Bastida will be providing a very real threat to the title aspirations of Sunderland’s ‘PBK’. At 25-years-old the Argentine has had additional rounds, but holds a similar record to Kelly in only having one loss and one draw on his record. The narrow margins between the fighters guarantee a technical and excellent battle between two men looking to give it all to claim the belt and move on to endless possibilities in their next fight.

Wasserman’s Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland, expressed his delight for Kelly and the doors it could open to get the North East boy back where he belongs.

“Josh Kelly fighting for titles feels like one of the most natural things in boxing,” said Sauerland. “His pedigree and his ability rightfully have him fighting for the WBO International belt when we blow the roof off the Vertu Motors Arena. This will stick Josh's name exactly where it belongs and sets up an exciting future where massive fights can be made for our former Olympian. Newcastle, be ready!”

Press Releasee | Lisa Whiteside added to card

Lisa Whiteside’s comeback fight has been confirmed.

The former Great Britain amateur star ends a near three-year spell away from the ring when she boxes on July 30, in Newcastle on a Wasserman Boxing promotion.

Whiteside, 3-0 as a professional, last boxed in September 2019 but took time away from the sport to focus on having her first child before injury issues delayed her return further.

But the 36-year-old is fully fit, has been firing in the gym and is ready to relaunch her career in Newcastle later this month.

“I can’t wait, I am absolutely made up to be on this show and to make my Probellum debut, on such a good card, is brilliant,” buzzed Whiteside.

“I am going to embrace every second of my comeback fight and enjoy it – I am just so happy to be back fighting and be back in the mix!”

The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist plans to use her Newcastle return to catapult her into the super bantamweight world title reckoning.

“I want to be fast-tracked and to quickly be in position to fight for titles,” Whiteside, who is known as the ‘Lionheart’, declared.

“I may only be 3-0 as a pro but I’ve got masses and masses of experience from the amateurs so I don’t want to be messing around. I want to get on with my career and push on towards the big fights.”