Josh Kelly remained on track for a world title shot, as he thrilled his home fans at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland with a third round knockout of Placido Ramirez.
Kelly (15-1-1, 8 KOs) came into this one ranked number one with the WBO, with a meeting with the champion Tim Tszyu in his sights for 2024, and he was on a run of four straight wins since moving up to the weight after a loss to David Avanesyan in 2021. Ramirez (24-4, 17 KOs) entered as a dangerous Columbian looking to score the upset win that would catapult him up the rankings.
Some slick boxing in the early going for the home fighter had the visitor befuddled, and the end was swift in coming in the third frame.
With Kelly on his back foot, he sprung into a devastating uppercut that forced Ramirez to his knees, where he sat out the full count from the referee.
BOOM 💥
Josh Kelly gets the third-round TKO with a peach of a right uppercut 👏🏼
Who do you want to see him fight next? 🤔
🎬 @DAZNBoxing #KellyRamirez | #Boxing pic.twitter.com/YJMVqY0p4T
— IFL TV (@IFLTV) December 16, 2023
Light undercard sees home fighters prevail
Tursynbay Kulakhmet (6-1, 4 KOs) kept on the comeback trail, and the Kazakh middleweight won all six rounds against Fouad El Massoudi (18-22-1, 2 KOs).
Ben Marksby (9-0, 0 KOs) got the nod in an entertaining scrap against Kurt Jackson (4-1, 0 KOs) at super lightweight. Marksby took the win by a 59-55 margin for the referee.
Super welterweight prospect Travis Waters (5-0, 3 KOs) impressed, as he halted Mykhalio Sovtus (5-30-1, 2 KOs) in the sixth and final frame. Waters unloaded a volley of spiteful blows, and the referee had seen enough.
Dan Toward (2-0, 1 KO) showed some flashy skills, and took a 60-53 win in his six rounder at super welterweight against Nikolas Dzurnak (6-6-2, 5 KOs).
Tom Welland (2-0, 1 KO) stayed unbeaten, taking a unanimous win in his six rounder at featherweight against Yuri Zanoli (3-12-1, 3 KOs). Andrei Dascalu (9-0, 2 KOs) also kept his “0”, as he came through 59-56 on the referee’s card at super middleweight against Angel Emilov (11-55-3, 7 KOs).
Harvey Lambert (3-0, 1 KO) scored a third round knockdown, as he eventually took a 40-35 verdict over four rounds at welterweight against Fabio Cascone (3-8, 1KO).
