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'I'm down': Kelly open to Ennis unification with Agyarko win
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'I'm down': Kelly open to Ennis unification with Agyarko win
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23 hrs ago
23 hrs ago
2 min read
Provided he gets past Belfast's Caoimhin Agyarko this weekend, IBF junior middleweight champion Josh Kelly is open to a unification with Jaron 'Boots' Ennis next.
Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs) and Agyarko (18-0, 7 KOs) meet on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's heavyweight fight with Albania's Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The fight will be streamed exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view.
In June, Ennis (36-0, 32 KOs) stopped Xander Zayas in the seventh round of an exciting shootout for the Puerto Rican's WBO and WBA 154-pound world titles.
The win saw Ennis become a two-weight champion while moving him up to top spot in The Ring's junior middleweight rankings, while cracking the pound-for-pound list as a new entrant at No. 9.
Kelly has crossed paths with Ennis and his father/trainer Bozy before.
During an appearance on Inside The Ring, the 32-year-old remembered his 2019 draw with Ray Robinson who was training with the Ennis’ at their famous Philadelphia dungeon.
“If I get this win Saturday then yeah, I'm down. I'm down to fight Boots,” he said.
“I've got great respect for him. I shared the ring with - in my 10th fight and I was only 25 or 26 - Ray Robinson and thought I was unlucky not to get the decision but he was experienced. He was training with Boots and his dad Bozy, and it was a real experience in Madison Square Garden.
“I've matured tenfold on top of that now. They already know how I box, how and who I am so I'd love that. I’ve got utmost respect for Boots but this is a fight game and when it's me versus you, all the respect goes out the window. I'm in there to do a job and do my job clinically.”
The junior middleweight division has suddenly become one of the most high profile and interesting in the sport.
As well as Kelly and Ennis, fighters like the all-action, 6-foot-6 tall WBC champion Sebastian Fundora and Vergil Ortiz will have hopes of establishing themselves as the man to beat over the coming years.
Kelly respects his fellow fighters but puts himself at the head of the queue.
“I’m gonna say me,” he said when asked who is the best.
“I haven't showed what I've showed in the gym yet. I haven't showed the inside work, that technical ability inside. Taking my head out like [Roberto] Duran, trying to bully the guys inside, tying them up and moving them, getting my head in the right place, using my arms and blocking shots.
“I think outside of me I'd probably say the top two guys would be Boots or I mean, Fundora's a freak so Fundora's got to be in the conversation or Ortiz. So you've got them guys there but I put myself right amongst them, right amongst them in the mix.”
Inside The Ring airs live every Monday on DAZN (2 p.m. ET/7 p.m. BST), providing interviews, analysis and breaking news with the sport's most captivating names. Portions of each episode will become available on The Ring’s YouTube channel after they stream live. Also follow on Instagram (@insideringshow), TikTok (@InsideRingShow), X (@InsideRingShow) and Facebook (Inside Ring Show).
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