Josh Kelly starts professional career by out-pointing Jay Byrne
Saturday 15 April 2017 22:16, UK
Josh Kelly made an impressive start to his professional career, dominating Jay Byrne.
The Sunderland star took all but one of the six rounds at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday, leaving him fresh and set for Wembley Stadium.
Kelly, one of Team GB's Rio 2016 team, will be on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko on April 29, with former Olympic team-mates Lawrence Okolie and Joe Cordina also on the Sky Sports Box Office bill.
Kelly was keen to impress the Scottish crowd and, as soon as the bell sounded, his sharp jab found the target.
There were times when Byrne - who took London prospect Felix Clash six rounds last month - tried to smother the debutant and it did work.
Kelly, though, clearly does not lack confidence and in the third a slick three-punch salvo with the left hit home and reminded his opponent who all eyes were supposed to be on.
With Adam Booth in his corner, the class came out in the fourth with Kelly landing an uppercut alongside more combinations - before he came close to marking his debut with a knockdown in the fifth.
A sizzling right-left salvo wobbled Byrne but, to his credit, he was smart enough to step out of danger and remain standing at the end of the six-round fight.
