Usyk vs Bellew: Josh Kelly to fight David Avanesyan next month after TKO win
'Pretty Boy' blasts aside Walter Fabian Castillo inside one round.
Tuesday 27 November 2018 10:50, UK
Josh Kelly will fight former world champion David Avanesyan in Sheffield on December 8 after scoring a scintillating first-round stoppage win in Manchester.
The 24-year old mercurial talent will take on the Russian, 23-3-1, on the Kell Brook-Michael Zefara Sheffield bill having cruised to 8-0 on Saturday.
Avanesyan, a former WBA 'regular' world champion was edged out by American Lamont Peterson last year and has also beaten Shane Mosley as 'Pretty Boy' takes a huge step up in class.
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed the news after Kelly's whirlwind victory over Castillo, saying: "On December 8th, Josh Kelly will be in against former world champion David Avanesyan."
The Argentinian visitor hardly landed a punch as Kelly exploded out of the blocks and unleashed a barrage of flash, slick combination punches on the Usyk-Bellew undercard.
With clever movement, dancing in and out of range, the Sunderland star landed heavy shots from all angles through the opening three minutes, before, with Castillo looking to survive to hear the bell, the referee stopped proceedings.
"I'm finished at this sort of level, I want to test myself," Kelly said afterwards.
"Avanesyan is the name they've said, he's the next step. I'm getting better all the time."
