Sunderland fan Josh Kelly has warned Gabriel Corzo he's in for trouble ahead of their high stakes clash at the Vertu Motors Arena on June 24. Kelly will go toe-to-toe with the unbeaten Argentinian in defence of his WBO International title, with the winner likely setting up a world title fight next year.
The avid Black Cats supporter has dreams of boxing at the Stadium of Light in front of a packed out crowd and knows a win over Corzo would set up a bout with undisputed champion Jermell Charlo. Kelly is ranked number two in the WBO rankings and has grand plans of his own.
Kelly said: “It is going to be an explosive performance on June 24 and my skillset, coupled with the way I am performing at the moment, means I can’t be matched. I am looking for the big names now.
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“Having just turned 29, I am coming into my prime and Corzo is going to be in trouble later this month. I know I will get the chance for this world title in the next 12 months and I will win it.”
Kelly put in an impressive display in his last outing, dispatching Troy Williamson to win the British title back in December to propel his career back in the right direction. Speaking to Chronicle Live back in July prior to his fight with Lucas Bastida, Kelly said: "I think I've got to have at least one there before I end my career. Sunderland fans take over - we took 46,000 down to Wembley to watch the play-offs.
"The amount of fans we've got and support we've got for our own is mad. Hopefully I can bring a big fight up to the North East. I've been dreaming of fighting at the Stadium of Light since I was a kid.
"It would be surreal if we can get a big fight there. It felt a bit like a Conor McGregor moment [walking onto the pitch at the Stadium of Light] where he talks about fighting and growing up.
"Manifesting all this stuff, it feels like it's coming to a head now because I've been thinking about it for so long and I've got it written down. Little things like this.
"Walking out on the pitch just there and seeing it full up would be absolutely amazing. Obviously that would tick a massive box in my career, tick sort of a bucket list.
"The ring walk, I've already pictured the tunes. I'd have the old school 'Dance of the Knights.' When I was watching Sunderland that was their old school tune so I'd have that on. The place would feel electric, it would be unbelievable. It would mean the world."
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