Kelly keeps sharp in search for title fights
Kelly…one of Birmingham’s best. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions
RYAN Kelly, now one of Midlands boxing’s VIPs, keeps the ring rust at bay tomorrow (Sunday) with a six rounder against Italian born, Manchester based Italian Ellliot Eboigbe.
The Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, clash is a return to the small hall circuit for Chelmsley Wood’s Kelly as he waits for opportunities to arise.
And, on paper, southpaw Eboigbe looks a level below the 31-year-old. He’s won one of 16, but mixed it in good company and only failed to hear the final bell on a single occasion.
Kelly deserves an easier night after a 26 fight career with more bad breaks than most boxers encounter.
Be honest: he beat future British middleweight champ Brad Paul despite falling short to a decision that, frankly, stank.
He looked unlucky to lose to Kieron Conway – another who would go on to claim the Lonsdale Belt – and the draw with top ranked Gerome Warburton was controversial. Looking at the re-runs, he won that fight.
In some other life, Kelly must’ve upset the Gods because he’s not getting the boxing breaks he deserves.
And I’m not sure Birmingham fight fans realise what they’ve got in Kelly. Under trainer Costello he appears stronger and his inside work is better. He’s a very, very good fighter. He is capable of taking a British title, at the very least.
Ryan has the power and ring IQ. Time is now the new enemy.
He also possesses flaws. Warburton, for example, could and should have been beaten out of sight if Ryan had opened the throttle in mid rounds. To put it bluntly, Ryan coasted when he should’ve been cruel.
Kelly admitted as much in an April interview with his promoters Black Country Boxing. He said of the Conway bout: “Eddie Hearn told me afterwards that I'd kick myself when I watched it back, and I understand what he meant. At times, I think I settled for single shots and admired my work instead of stringing combinations together. I need to unleash my hands more; that's the primary lesson from my last fight and what we've focused on in the gym.”
He and Costello may argue the point with me tomorrow, but the man who carries the nickname “Ruthless” hasn’t always been ruthless enough.
Kelly is good enough to have a Lonsdale Belt wrapped around his waist. And the real positive is he can compete at the highest level at either light-middle or middle.
I actually think middleweight currently provides more lucrative opportunities.
How about Kelly against BCB’s former British middleweight champ Nathan Heaney? Now that’s a Midlands super-fight, it’d sell-out Stoke – and I’d put a healthy bet on Ryan having his hand raised.