Unbeaten welterweight star-in-the-making Josh Kelly claimed the Commonwealth title in just his seventh fight with a seventh round TKO victory over Australian Kris George in Newcastle.
Boasting one of the biggest reputations in the sport, Kelly entered the bout as a red-hot favourite to claim his first major title in-front of a packed home crowd.
However, ‘Pretty Boy’ was forced to work for his victory by his plucky opponent, having to take some return fire in stages to show that there is still plenty for the Adam Booth-trained prodigy to learn in the paid ranks.
Controlling the bout behind a snappy lead left hand, Kelly sought to draw the lead from the champion in order to find a home for his customary counter-punches.
Although he remained in control throughout, two stiff left hooks from George in the fourth round sparked the 2016 Olympian into life. Kelly would respond in kind, finishing the session with George showing the first signs of distress at the weight of two crisp right hand counters.
Despite proving to be game in the early rounds, the middle sessions saw the now ex-champion start to retreat into a shell, seemingly nursing a hand injury that simply left him unable to deter Kelly’s advances.
A dominant sixth round would pre-empt the finish, with Kelly having his way with his opponent in a brutally one-sided seventh round that threatened to produce a stoppage.
While there was to be no highlight-reel knockout, George would be pulled out of the bout in between rounds by his corner, handing Kelly the Commonwealth welterweight title in the process: much to the delight of the Newcastle crowd.
The precociously-talented Kelly would make reference to his apparent lack of defensive sharpness in the post-fight interview, and under the guidance of renowned trainer Adam Booth, will no doubt be aware that he is still far from the finished article as a professional.