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Liam Smith Replacement Confirmed As Josh Kelly Set To Remain On Joshua-Dubois Undercard

Written by Tom Eaton on 16th September 2024.

Liam Smith and Josh Kelly

A few days ago, it was confirmed that Liam Smith had been forced to withdraw from his intriguing showdown with Josh Kelly and with the event scheduled to take place around one week later, it seemed as though Kelly would not be making an appearance on the bill. Yet, the allure of such a high-profile card gave hope that another middleweight would step up to the plate and now a late-notice replacement has been officially confirmed.

Smith, a former WBO super-welterweight champion, shocked the country when he upset the odds to become the first man to knock out Chris Eubank Jr. back in January 2023, despite the fact that he was made to move up in weight for the opportunity. Although, their rematch was less fruitful for ‘Beefy’, who underwhelmed in a reversed one-sided display that culminated in a stoppage defeat of his own, later revealing a host of pre-fight issues and admitting that he was not fit to fight.

Seeking to bounce back from that humbling rematch, the scouser accepted the call to take on slick Sunderland-born contender Josh Kelly in a crossroads clash that would likely thrust the victor into another showdown on the big stage – possibly even for world honours. However, just days out from the fight it was announced that Smith had pulled out, citing a virus as the reasoning rather than anything relating to the weight struggles that he suffered before the Eubank rematch.

With the clock ticking, Turki Al-Alshikh seemed reluctant to take ‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly off of the card and thus the search for a replacement began, but this search was aided by the ever-present British boxing manager Lee Eaton, after he immediately put Ishmael Davis’ name into the hat.

“If the rumours are true – Ishmael Davis is ready to go if needed. Just give us a call & we will see you next week in London.”

That willingness to fight has clearly been well-received by Al-Alshikh and the Riyadh Season team, as it has now been formally announced that Davis will replace Liam Smith and take on Josh Kelly in the hopes of spring the upset and derailing the world title ambitions of the former Team GB Olympian.

“Liam Smith has suffered a health setback we wish him a speedy recovery. He will be replaced by Ishmael Davis in the #RiyadhSeasonCard Wembley Edition on September 21.”

Davis impressed in his latest fight, overcoming former British champion Troy Williamson in a career-best performance unanimous-decision victory at Sheffield Arena on the Dalton Smith vs. Jose Zepeda undercard. ‘The Black Panther’ was then scheduled to appear on the Catterall-Prograis bill in Manchester on October 26thin a tough bout against Uisma Lima but the undefeated Yorkshireman is unlikely to ahead with that fight now.

Kelly-Davis will be the sixth all-British affair on the blockbuster Joshua-Dubois card, as ‘AJ’ seeks to become boxing’s fifth three-time heavyweight champion in the main-event.

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