KELLY WANTS 2019 DATE AFTER VIRUS STRIKES
SUNDERLAND BOXER’S PRIDE HURT AFTER PULLING OUT OF AVANESYAN FIGHT JUST HOURS BEFORE
Josh Kelly says his ‘pride is damaged’ after pulling out of a fight with former world champion David Avanesyan just hours before he was due in the ring.
Kelly withdrew from Saturday night’s bout in Sheffield against the Russian after suffering a virus overnight.
The Sunderland welterweight was set for his hardest fight to date, and was accused by Avanesyan’s manager of a ‘bottle job’ in an angry outburst.
But Kelly insists he had no other option when he took to Instagram to explain the decision, and said he would fight the Russian in the new year instead.
Kelly wrote: “It’s been hard to say the least not fighting because of illness doesn’t only affect me, but affects others around me as well and for that I’m sorry.
“After weighing in I didn’t feel tip top health-wise and thought I would get better, but it has got progressively worse.
“The bugs going around this time of year are rife and I’ve happened to come down with something this close to a fight and that’s killed me inside.
“A feeling that my pride is damaged and that is the worst part of all.
“The sacrifice of having my baby and going straight back into training after was hard enough missing out on so much time with him. So to sacrifice all of that and then this to happen has hurt me deeply.
“All I can say is sorry to everyone who bought tickets and sorry to David and his team. One thing is for sure, David will be my first fight in the new year.
“I guess this was written and what was meant to be. Love for all the messages and support I’ve received. I’m going to switch off now for a while and spend some time with my boy and my family because it’s been a busy year.”
Promotor Eddie Hearn, who had Kelly slated as one of the main supports on the undercard of Kell Brook’s clashwithMichaelZerafalast night, is also keen for the Sunderland man to face Avanesyan at the start of 2019.
Whether the Russian decides to fight Kelly is a different matter, however.
Meanwhile, Kell Brook looked far from convincing as he recorded an unanimous points victory over Australia’s Michael Zerafa in Saturday’s super-welterweight fight in Sheffield.
Having spent the buildup to the fight taunting Amir Khan over what he claimed was the Bolton man’s reluctance to fight him, the 32-year-old produced a performance which would hardly have had his compatriot running scared.
Despite a fast start in the opening round, the Yorkshireman was well below his best, looking laboured and allowing his unheralded opponent to land with far too many shots.
However, he was still too good for Zerafa, winning the final eliminator for the WBA super-welterweight world title by 118-110, 119-109 and 117111 on the judges’ scorecards.
Brook admitted after the fight, his first since March, he had felt “rusty” and “flat” before again turning his attention to Khan.
“I’ve got the buzz again, I’m reborn,” Brook said on Sky Sports. “Next year, 2019, I’m coming for them big boys. It’s now or never. Amir, I’m ready, I’m hungry, I’m fit.”