WBO #15 Jimmy Kelly wants Gennadiy Golovkin next
England’s Jimmy Kelly (27-3, 10KO) has somewhat reinvented himself in recent years. The Manchester based middleweight has ventured to American shores since his collaboration with ProBox TV last year.
Managed bu James Mulvi, 30-year-old Kelly upset the odds defeating Kazakhstan’s Kanat Islam last year in Plant City to win the WBO Global middleweight title. He has since tasted defeat at the hand of Jaime Munguia but got back to winning ways with a victory over Edward Ulloa Diaz in February.
With a 100 percent win record against Kazakh fighters, 'Kilrain' Kelly has thrown his name into the hat for a potential homecoming fight with Gennadiy Golovkin.
“I think my name should be in the hat for that fight,” Kelly said. “I beat Kanat Islam, a popular fighter from Kazakhstan. From what I can gather my name is well known over there due to that fight, and I just think I’m in the conversation. It excites me.
“He is arguably one of the best ever 160 pound fighters. He has had so many title defenses. If you were going to fight Golovkin, now probably would be the right time but it is still an incredible task to defeat a man like him. If it made sense and he wanted to have a homecoming fight over there, what an honour it would be to share the ring with him. I wouldn’t be going over there in awe of him, I’ve shown before that I’m willing to go anywhere in the world and give it a good go. I’ve upset the odds before, no reason why I can’t do it again. I was winning against Munguia until I got caught. I’ve boxed in Australia, I’ve boxed in California, boxed in Florida and even Kuwait. I’ve been all around the world, and I can’t find my baby!”
Brit boxer Kelly had his first 24 bouts in the UK beore travelling to Australia and suffering his first career defeat to Dennis Hogan. His last three fights have been in America, winning two and losing once. He has been campaigning around the middleweight limit in recent fights, but was in no mood to worry over significant details in a proposed bout with Golovkin.
“I’ll leave the weight to him.” Kelly added. “I think he has earned the right to do it at 160 or 168, completely up to him. It doesn’t make that much difference in my head. I boxed at 165 against Munguia and I only had four weeks notice. I believe I have the character to go and win on the road, a lot of people don’t."
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