Josh Kelly has vowed to let his fists do the talking in his eagerly-awaited clash with bitter rival David Avanesyan at the SSE Arena in Wembley on Saturday night.
The bout has been postponed on three occasions, leading to bad blood between the camps amid doubts from some fight fans that the contest will ever take place.
Way back in December 2018, Kelly pulled out of a clash with Avanesyan on the day of the fight, citing illness, sparking a 26-month war of words that has not been helped by subsequent postponements due to the rampage of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Sunderland’s Kelly insists he is remaining cool under the spotlight and will wait to settle the score inside the ropes on Saturday night. But there is little doubt that dangerous European 147lbs champion Avanesyan is his toughest test to date.
“I won’t get emotionally involved, I will stay business-like. I’m mentally on the ball. I’ve looked at great fighters of the past – I’ve looked at who did a lot of talking and who didn’t. There are pros and cons to both,” Kelly told Sky Sports. “When you let people run their mouth, you will find holes in what they are saying. It’s time to prove everyone wrong. It’s time to prove what I know is right.
“Mentally it’s down to me. I know where I’m at. [There is] pure excitement, I can’t wait. I’ve had a smile on my face for weeks knowing this fight was coming. I’ve got ingredients that I’ve added that I will show on Saturday. I believe a stoppage win is coming.
“I genuinely believe that when I punch him, he’ll find out what power I’ve got, and he’ll start doubting the forward pressure that [he] will put on. I’ve got a good premonition, I have good energy. Everything is on point.”