Troy Williamson vs Josh Kelly – Results & Post-Fight Report

Josh Kelly turned in a career-best performance to take the British super welterweight title with an emphatic points win over Troy Williamson in a North East derby at the Newcastle Arena.

Williamson had won the British title in October 2021, in a thrilling stoppage of Ted Cheeseman, and defended once, before taking a tune-up fight in his last outing, a sixth round stoppage of David Benitez in September. Kelly was a highly decorated amateur, but suffered a crushing defeat in a European title tilt at welterweight, halted by David Avanesyan in February last year. A move to 154 pounds followed, where two wins in 2022 were banked, the last a points win to take the vacant WBO International strap against Lucas Bastida in July.

Kelly (13-1-1, KO7) began this one with authority, unloading flashy shots, while being quick enough to make Williamson (19-1-1, KO14) miss when he decided to go on the attack. Williamson did try to rough Kelly up in the second, but to little avail, as the Sunderland man was landing quick, snappy shots that caught Williamson on the way in. The champion did come alive at the end of the fourth, landing with a meaty right hand, but an accurate combination seemed to wobble Williamson’s legs in the fifth. Kelly could hardly miss, and after a dominant sixth, Kelly was accurate on the counter in round seven, punishing anything short from ’The Trojan’. There were signs of tiredness from Kelly in the ninth, but he quickly put that to one side in the championship rounds, as he constantly beat Williamson to the punch, and although the Darlington native had his best round to date in the last frame, the result was academic as the fight went to the cards.

Scores of 119-109, 119-111 and 118-110 confirmed a superb victory for Kelly, who became the new champion.

On the undercard, Lyndon Arthur (21-1, KO15) continued his comeback after defeat to Anthony Yarde, and he scored an impressive second round stoppage of English champion Joel McIntyre (20-5, KO5) at light heavyweight. A right hand had McIntyre on unsteady legs, and a measured follow up attack, where his right hand couldn’t miss, forced the referee to intervene.

Former world title challenger Katharina Thanderz (15-1, KO2) was given a decent argument over eight against Edina Kiss (15-17, KO9) before taking a 78-75 win on the referee’s scorecard.

The heavyweight rematch went the way of Franklin Ignatius (5-0-1, KO1) as he took a six round points win against Hosea Stewart (2-1-1, KO0). The original was a four round draw, but Ignatius won this one by a 58-56 margin.

Jordan Baker (5-2, KO1) suffered a second professional defeat, with Sheila Martinez (4-3, KO1) taking all six rounds at lightweight. At super lightweight, Ben Marksby (6-0, KO0) remained unblemished, coming through 58-56 against Santiago Garces (4-12-3, KO2).

Joe Laws (13-2, KO5) appeared on this card, and ’The Benwell Bomber’ came through 39-37 against Alexander Zeledon (6-39-4, KO0) at super middleweight.

Bobby Dalton (3-0, KO0) made it three wins from three, as the Redcar super welterweight won 40-37 in his four rounder against Joel Banderas (0-2). Ewan MacKenzie (6-0, KO3) took all four rounds at middleweight against Angel Emilov (10-46-2, KO6).

Adam Reichard (1-0, KO0) made his debut, and the lightweight took a 38-37 win over four against Claudio Lionel Baldomir (5-11-1, KO0). Travis Waters (1-0, KO0) also made his pro bow, and he took a 40-36 verdict over Eligio Palacios (8-63-5, KO0) at super welterweight.