How to watch David Avanesyan vs Josh Kelly
'Ava vs 'PBK'
Josh Kelly takes a step up in class against European welterweight champion David Avanesyan on the 87th day of the year.
BBN have provided all the details you need to know about the Russia vs England battle:
Date
The bout takes place on March 28, 2020, which is very aptly the same day in history that Britain declared war on Russia 166 years ago during the Crimean War.
Venue
It takes place at the O2 Arena in London.
Rounds scheduled
12 three-minute championship rounds at welterweight.
Titles
Reigning champion David Avanesyan's European welterweight title is on the line.
Ringwalks
UK fight fans can expect Avanesyan and Kelly to make their ringwalks any time around 10pm (GMT) on Saturday night, but boxing events are often subject to delays.
TV Coverage
Coverage for Avanesyan-Kelly starts live on Sky Sports Facebook at 6pm, then live on Sky Sports from 7pm live, and DAZN in the US
Live Stream
You can watch online via the Sky Sports website here: https://www.skysports.com/watch
There is one other way that you can watch if you are not a Sky TV customer, or if you are just out and about on Saturday night by simply finding a suitable pub that is showing the event by visiting pubfinder.sky.com
Price
Free to view for Sky Sports subscribers
Tickets
Tickets priced £40, £60, £100 and £200 (VIP) are available to purchase now via StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com).
Undercard Highlights
There's more championship action as evenly-matched Luther Clay (13-1) and Chris Kongo (11-0) battle for 'Luth's' WBO Global welterweight belt.
Related Articles
Everything you ever need to know about David Avanesyan HERE
Press Conference Quotes
Josh Kelly: “It’s a good opportunity to silence the doubters. He is the favourite now. He has proved how good he is in the last three fights. It’s going to be a good fight, but one I’m quietly confident about. When I win, then I take it to the next level. A lot in the future is lying on this fight.”
David Avanesyan: “I have unfinished business with Josh Kelly. I'm delighted the fight has finally been made and I will have a chance to inflict a first defeat on his professional career. As the British fans know, I will fight anyone anywhere and I am determined to put a big show on for them in every fight as they treat me so well and I love them. After I deal with Kelly I want Eddie to deliver me a World Title shot so I can become a two-time World Champion and secure my family's future.”
Background
Former WBA world champion David Avanesyan (26-3-1, 14 KOs), trained by Carl Greaves, is defending his EBU European welterweight title for the third time against undefeated rising Sunderland star Josh Kelly (10-0-1, 6 KOs) in a bitter grudge match after the pair were originally scheduled to clash in December 2018, but 'PBK' withdrew on the morning of their fight, leading to calls of being a 'bottlejob' from 'Ava's' manager Neil Marsh, something that still niggles at Adam Booth-trained Kelly today; so there's a bit of history there, a lot of needle, and some unfinished business in a fantastic fight where both boxers have something to prove.
Key Stats
Nottingham-based Avanesyan stands at 5ft 8" with a 69" reach compared to challenger Kelly's taller stature at 5ft 10" and a longer 72" reach.
The Russian national, six years Kelly's senior, has had over a decade in the paid ranks compared to 25-year-old Kelly's three. In that time, Avanesyan has won 26 from 30 bouts, collecting six titles at welterweight – the Russian national title; WBC Youth Inter-Continental; WBC Asian; WBC Baltic; interim WBA World and the WBA World title.
With just 11 professional bouts under his belt, Rio 2016 Olympian Kelly has managed to win the Commonwealth and WBA International welterweight titles, the latter which he defended three times, the last defence ended in draw with American Ray Robinson.
Although Avanesyan has already been a world ruler, Kelly has defeated a world champion in his sixth fight when decisioned former IBF super-welterweight titlist Carlos Molina unanimously over 10 rounds.
Predictions
Peter Sims: "This is a great European scrap with Josh Kelly being a reflex fighter and David Avanesyan being a puncher. I was training Dean Byrne when he fought Avanesyan a few years and recall Byrne saying to me how hard he hit. I’m going Avanesyan by late stoppage if Kelly runs out of steam, which has been his only flaw to date."
Check out all the predictions for Avanesyan vs Kelly HERE
Betting Odds Supplied by 888Sport
5/6 David Avanesyan
6/5 Josh Kelly
22/1 Draw
Running Order
David Avanesyan vs Josh Kelly
12×3 European welterweight title
Luther Clay vs Chris Kongo
10×3 WBO Global welterweight title
Conor Benn vs TBA
6×3 Welterweight contest
Joshua Buatsi vs TBA
6×3 Light-heavyweight contest
Ellie Scotney vs TBA
8×3 Featherweight contest
Jordan Gill vs TBA
6×3 Featherweight contest
Sam Cox vs TBA
6×3 Bantamweight contest
Dana Zaxo vs TBA
6×3 Light-heavyweight contest
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