Josh ‘PBK’ Kelly is the new British super welterweight champion following a dominant display against Troy ‘Trojan’ Williamson in a much anticipated North East derby.
Kelly silenced any doubters following his underwhelming last fight as he raced away to victory with the judges scoring it 119-111, 118-110 and 119-109 all in favour of the Sunderland man.
Kelly instantly implemented his elusive style, causing the defending champion many issues. An uppercut followed by a right hook from the challenger hurt Williamson, but the defending champion came through it.
FLYING start from Josh Kelly π₯π₯
Watch #WilliamsonKelly live on @channel5_tv πͺ@SauerlandBros | @WassermanBoxing | @WilliamHillpic.twitter.com/noVFSjJ9s4
β Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) December 2, 2022
Williamson did manage to close the distance and would get caught less frequently, however, the challenger looked relaxed under pressure and continued to use his flashy skills to make Williamson miss, whilst still landing shots of his own.
Round five saw the Sunderland man yet again make a dent in Williamson, as he landed a big right hand. ‘PBK’ sensed an opening, and his follow-up assault would leave the defending champion on unsteady legs. However, Williamson reminded Kelly that he was still there moments later, landing a big right of his own.
Williamson couldn’t get a foothold in the fight, as ‘PBK’ continued to implement his flashy movement and defensive skills, frustrating the defending champion as he could not pin the challenger down.
π£οΈ “He is boxing like a SUPERSTAR tonight”@JOSHPBK gets the crowd going at the end of the seventh round π₯@SauerlandBros | @WassermanBoxing | @WilliamHill | #WilliamsonKellypic.twitter.com/mUy6sQw61A
β Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) December 2, 2022
Kelly stretched a lead as the pattern continued right up until the final bell, Williamson continuously marched his man down, but the challenger always had an answer for what the defending champion had planned.
As the final bell rang, there was no doubt that the Sunderland man had gained the British title and bragging rights in the North East. The wide scorecards were revealed, and Kelly’s deserved victory was confirmed.
Your new British Super-Welterweight Champion: @JOSHPBK!π₯
What a fight in Newcastle live on @channel5_tv π₯@SauerlandBros | @WassermanBoxing | @WilliamHill | #WilliamsonKellypic.twitter.com/fxBOMeJ99q
β Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) December 2, 2022
After the fight, the new champion spoke about how much it meant for him to win the British title:
βThis British title means so much to us,β
βI boxed to instructions, boxed clever, didnβt take any risks. Troy was meant to do a demolition job on us, a hard-punching junior middleweight.β
Kelly now sits at the top of the domestic tree in the super welterweight division and may look to jump back up to the European level. Williamson was dealt his first defeat as a professional but definitely will come again.