Josh Kelly will stand in good stead going forward after picking up a fringe title.
The Sunderland super-welterweight is mandatory for Troy Williamson’s British title but he had more pressing business to deal with on Saturday night.
Kelly took on Lucas Brian Bastida at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, exclusively live on Channel 5, and was comfortable over 10 rounds as he added the vacant WBO International title to his collection.
‘PBK’ has been largely inactive for the past 18 months and needed the rounds, especially as he settled into a new weight class.
It was far from spectacular and never really lived up to expectations, but at no time did Kelly, trained by Adam Booth, look flustered.
“I think I showed my discipline tonight,” Kelly said after the fight. “I’m here for all the big fights, including Troy.”
Springing in and out of range is Kelly’s game and he excelled at that on the way to picking up a unanimous decision win by margins of 98-92, 99-92 and 96-95.
He caught Bastida, who was coming down in weight, with a good left hook in the first, but Bastida mostly kept things tight as he tried to put pressure on Kelly.
The home town man, 28, settled into a rhythm very early, looking to draw Bastida in and counterpunch him as he walked forward.
A clash of heads was about the only highlight and saw Kelly –– who landed a dazzling combination off the ropes in the ninth –– suffer a cut.
But the main thing for Kelly is that he’s back on the horse and back in title contention, having returned last month in Liverpool and snapping a lengthy hiatus following his sixth-round stoppage at the hands of welterweight David Avanesyan back in February 2021.
You can watch fight highlights below courtesy of Channel 5 Sport:
The fight warms up as Josh Kelly gets in a few shots in the second round.
Watch now on Channel 5.#KellyBastida @WassermanBoxing @WilliamHill pic.twitter.com/coalzsXR2I
— Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) July 30, 2022
Josh Kelly dodges Lucas Bastida's shots with some quick reflexes.
Watch now on Channel 5.#KellyBastida @WassermanBoxing @WilliamHill pic.twitter.com/Ki5hO8YPns
— Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) July 30, 2022
Josh Kelly gets out the blocks quickly in round seven ?
Watch now on Channel 5.#KellyBastida @WassermanBoxing @WilliamHill pic.twitter.com/nROXQO3xK0
— Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) July 30, 2022
On the same card, Harlem Eubank won by disqualification against Eliot Chavez.
Chavez was thrown out after 47 seconds of the ninth round after twice punching Eubank after the break.
Things almost came horribly unstuck for Eubank in the seventh round when he was dropped by a punch when he had dropped his hands after the referee told them to stop boxing.
The incident happened when the two became entangled.
Referee Kenny Pringle said “stop boxing” and Eubank stepped back with his hands down, but Chavez kept throwing landing one punch and then following up with another that sent Eubank crashing to the canvas.
Chavez got a warning but was told that he’d be disqualified if it happened again. Pringle shouted break and separated the pair, only for Chavez to land a left hook and the fight was instantly cut short.
Eliot Chavez is disqualified from his fight with Harlem Eubank after he twice hit Eubank after the referee called for fighting to be stopped. #KellyBastida @WassermanBoxing @WilliamHill pic.twitter.com/7AcCvYrLYC
— Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) July 30, 2022
Olympic silver medal-winner Pat McCormack stopped Frenchman Dimitri Trenel in the first round in a fight that did not make it on to Channel 5, moving to 2-0 since turning professional.
