SUNDERLAND have already made an offer to host Josh Kelly’s next fight after the local hero claimed the IBF Super Welterweight title in Newcastle.
Speaking to after Kelly’s majority decision win over Bakhram Murtazaliev , Matchroom CEO Frank Smith revealed the club had texted him straight after the epic victory.
Josh Kelly can’t hide his emotions as the belt gets put around his waistCredit: Getty
Josh Kelly defeated Bakhram MurtazalievCredit: Getty
Josh Kelly roars with delight and now he could get his dream of fighting at the Stadium of LightCredit: Getty
Once Kelly sat down for his press conference, Smith revealed the message to his latest champion.
“They’ve just text,” Smith started.
Kelly said: “Shut up.”
Smith continued: “They’ve said ‘Let’s get it on, Stadium of Light next.
“Club [is] inviting Josh into the boardroom on Monday and let’s get the fight made there.”
Kelly said: “Ahhhhh! Jesus Christ. That’s crazy.”
Half a dozen players were understood to have been in attendance cheering Kelly on at the Utilita Arena on Saturday including Dan Ballard and Simon Adingra.
The 31-year-old Sunderland superfan has a ton of options when it comes to making a fight worthy of taking place at his boyhood club.
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There's a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
will to make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder, while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of , Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
Up first we have a massive fight with Stateside superstars and Teofimo Lopez meeting later this month in Madison Square Garden.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
January
- Sat 31 – Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson – WBO super-lightweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 31 – Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly – IBF super-welterweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Francesca Hennessy vs Ellie Bouttell – BBC2
February
- Sat 7 – Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa – WBA featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 21 – Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 21 – Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – DAZN
- Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN
March
- Sat 14 – Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace – WBA super-featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Sebsastian Fundora vs Keith Furman – Amazon Prime PPV
April
- Sat 4 – Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder – DAZN PPV
- Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is a name Matchroom put in Kelly’s contract when he returned to the stable last year and the American moved up to 154lbs last October, winning the interim WBA belt.
is another option Smith refused to rule out after the fight.
Though his natural fighting weight is 147, he has gone as far up as 167lbs to fight Eubank Jr meaning 154 wouldn’t be an issue.
The win makes ‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly Britain’s sixth current world champion, two of which were crowned just this month in Dalton Smith and Kelly.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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