Sunderland fan Josh Kelly hopes to one day be fighting at the Stadium of Light.
The football club’s 49,000-seat stadium is famous for its cauldron-like atmosphere and for Kelly it would represent a bucket list moment to a day there.
Kelly is back on the ring Saturday night in Newcastle meets Lucas Brian Bastida six weeks after he returned last month from a 16-month layoff.
Speaking in a Wasserman Boxing press release, the 28-year-old Super Welterweight spoke about the possibility of fighting at the famous venue during a visit to the club.
“The possibility of a fight here is mental. It feels a bit like Conor McGregor’s moment when he mentioned showing off all of this, I feel like I’m just starting to think now. I’ve been thinking about fighting here for so long, I’ve been writing and stuff like that. “
“Walking out there, I could see the place was full and it was going to be absolutely amazing. That would tick a big box in my career if I could, it would be like a bucket list thing to me. “
Kelly is rebuilding her career with the help of Wasserman, promoters of the surname Kalle and Nisse Sauerlandand there’s Josh Kelly’s free-to-air TV show to raise his profile.
Defeat Peter Kramer last month introduced Kelly and reminded everyone of the skill set he possessed. ‘Pretty Boy’ has now moved on from defeat to David Avanesyan in February 2021 and is headed for bigger and better things as his career continues through this next chapter.
“I’m mingling with the best in the world all the time in the game, and I’m sharing the ring with all the top guys, and I can keep my own ring with everyone. I know where I am in the gym, I just need to do it on fight night now.
“I have a real belief in myself that everything that has happened is in the past and I am moving on to some big things, especially at 154lbs. I feel very strong, healthy and fit; only strong at this weight. “
Victory over Argentina’s Bastida at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle on Saturday will reward Kelly with the vacant WBO International Super Welterweight title and a world ranking. And the only word from there is up.
“It’s the WBO international title I’m fighting for, and it gets you into the top 15, it gets you straight into their rankings.
“Once you start fighting between those, belts start appearing in your sights. I believe that I can push myself to the top and put myself in a position where I need to get a spot for that world championship title. “
“My best version beats his best, so I just show up.”
