Kelly played against Pickford, but now Eyes Title Fight against ‘Freak’ champion

Josh Kelly once played alongside Jordan Pickford – now he focuses on world title fights against champions bigger than the goalkeeper.

Kelly spent two years in the Sunderland Academy But was started when he struggled to juggle boxing.

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But the Black Cats fan admits that it was probably excited in the ring after he had given football the KO.

He told The Northern Echo: “I was in the Academy of 11 until I was about 13 years old. I was in and out of the Academy and Development Center.

“I remember playing in one training game and Pickford was in goal! I did well.

“I think I could have done well in football, but when I made weight for boxing, I wasn’t as fast as the other boys, and I made the decision to concentrate on my boxing.

“I tried to run both next to each other. I played a bit for Hartlepool. But it’s hard to concentrate on both.

“I remember one day and talked to my father, many boys were much more mature than me, I was tapping weight for boxing and trying to diet and I knew that I had to do this or that.

“When I started boxing for England and going to places, that was the natural step.”

Kelly was a decorated amateur and represented Great Britain at the world and European level.

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He was eligible for the 2016 Olympic Games, but was eliminated in the second round by Daniyar Yeleussinov from Kazakhstan.

Kelly then became professional in 2017 and seemed to be one of the most promising talents in boxing the world, with flashy speed and striking combinations.

But after signing unknown American Ray Robinson in 2019 and David Avanesyan lose two years laterKelly’s career came question.

He slowly built his way up and went up from welterweight to light-half-weight, where he won the British title.

But Kelly looks at the 154LB large dogs – fairly literally – with his eyes on 6ft 6in WBC and WBO champion Sebastian Fundora.

He told Boxing scene: “Long; awkward; readable; I have the feeling that he is readable; he is also a freak.”

Despite the weighing of the limit of 11 stones, Fundora is the same height as 18 stone heavyweight Anthony Joshua.

He defeated Tim Tzyu for the WBO title and the vacant WBC -Riem.

Kelly now also has Chris Eank JR and Conor Benn In his visor after their second generation of resentment in April.

Benn, 28, moved from Weltergege for the fight, but was defeated by Eank, 35, after 12 exciting rounds.

Kelly returns to Newcastle on Friday By 24-1 Romanian Flavius ​​Biea.

But he said about his plans for the future: “Well, Benn or Eank or such a person would be cool.

“So, only big fighting – just those who get people talking, who will make people enthusiastic, those where you get excited.”

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