Josh Kelly played against Jordan Pickford but now eyes title fight against ‘freak’ champ who’s as tall as Anthony Joshua
JOSH KELLY once played alongside Jordan Pickford – now he is targeting world title fights against champions taller than the England No1.
Kelly spent two years in Sunderland’s academy but was booted out when he struggled to juggle it with boxing.
But the Black Cats fan admits it was probably for the best having excelled in the ring after giving football the KO.
He told The Northern Echo: “I was in the academy from 11 until I was about 13. I was in and out of the academy and development centre.
“I remember playing in one training game and Pickford was in goal! I did well.
“I think I could have done OK in football but when I was making weight for boxing I didn’t really mature as quickly as the other guys, and I made the decision to focus on my boxing.
“I was trying to run both next to each other. I played for Hartlepool a little bit. But it’s hard to focus on both.
“I remember coming off one day and talking to my dad, a lot of the lads were a lot more mature than me, I was weight draining myself for the boxing and trying to diet and I knew I had to do this or that.
“When I started boxing for England and going places, that was the natural step.”
Kelly was a decorated amateur, representing Great Britain at World and European level.
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He went onto qualify for the 2016 Olympics but was eliminated in the second round by Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan.
Kelly then turned professional in 2017 and looked to be one of the most promising talents in world boxing, with flashy speed and eye-catching combinations.
But after drawing to unknown American Ray Robinson in 2019 and losing to David Avanesyan two years later, Kelly’s career came into question.
He built his way back up slowly, moving up from welterweight to light-middleweight, where he won the British title.
But Kelly is eyeing the 154lb big dogs – quite literally – with his eyes on 6ft 6in WBC and WBO champion Sebastian Fundora.
He told BoxingScene: “Tall; awkward; readable; I feel like he’s readable; he’s a freak as well.”
Despite weighing the 11 stone limit, Fundora stands the same height as 18 stone heavyweight Anthony Joshua.
He beat Tim Tszyu for the WBO title and the vacant WBC belt.
Kelly meanwhile also has Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn in his sights after their second generation grudge match in April.
Benn, 28, moved up from welterweight for the fight but was beaten by Eubank, 35, after 12 thrilling rounds.
Kelly returns on Friday in Newcastle against 24-1 Romanian Flavius Biea.
But he said on his future plans: “Well, Benn or Eubank or someone like that would be cool.
“So, just big fights – just ones that will get people talking, ones that will get people excited, ones where you get excited.”