How to watch Josh Kelly vs Lucas Bastida
‘Pretty Boy Kelly’ faces ‘El Tornado’
BBN have provided viewers with all the details needed to tune in and watch the second installment of Rio 2016 Olympian Josh Kelly's comeback against his 14th professional opponent Lucas Bastida on the 211th day of the year. Everything you need to know about the Wasserman Boxing event below:
Date
The contest takes place on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
Venue
Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle, which is home to the Newcastle Eagles of the British Basketball League and holds 3,500 spectators.
Rounds scheduled
10x three-minute rounds at super-welterweight (154lbs).
Titles
The vacant WBO International super-welterweight title is on the line, last held by Magomed Kurbanov after he controversially outpointed Liverpool's Liam Smith in Russia last year.
Ringwalks
Ringwalks can be expected from around 10pm.
TV Coverage
Coverage starts live on Channel 5 at 10pm and runs for 2 hours 5 minutes to 12:05am.
Live Stream
You can live stream the main event HERE
To stream, download the My5 app on you mobile, tablet or PC.
You can keep up with the results by using the hashtag: #BoxingOn5 on social media.
BBN will be providing LIVE round-by-round results on fight night HERE
Tickets
Tickets priced £40, £80, £100 and £200 are on sale now and available via www.wassermanboxing.com
Undercard Highlights
Harlem Eubank (14-0, 6KO) taking on another decent opponent in Tom Farrell (21-5, 5KO) should be interesting, however, is it a sidewards step after beating Sean Dodd in two rounds in his last fight? Regardless, it'll still be an interesting and entertaining watch, especially as Harlem has stopped his last three foes.
UPDATE: Farrell withdrew due to contracting COVID, so Harlem now faces Mexican Eliot Chavez, who has won his last four 10-round contests – three by knockout and the last one, in April, by unanimous decision.
Background
Josh Kelly (11-1-1, 7KO) will be counting on the support of the North East to get him over the line when he competes against Lucas Bastida (18-1-1, 10KO) for the WBO International Super Welterweight Championship, live on Channel 5.
This is an important fight and opportunity for one of these fighters to break into the world rankings with the World Boxing Organisation, where American 'Iron Man' Jermell Charlo reigns supreme as the undisputed super-welterweight champion.
After a dominant performance against Peter Kramer in his last fight, 28-year-old Kelly will now look to cement himself into the world rankings and reintroduce himself onto the global scene of the 154lbs division after a short bump in the road at welterweight when he was stopped by the formidable European welterweight champion David Avanesyan in 2021.
Although he didn't reach the same heights as his British opponent, Lucas did run his amateur record to an impressive 30-3 and was the Buenos Aires Province champion, Atlantic Coast champion, and local Mar del Plata champion. Trained by Fernando Sosa, he was unfortunate to receive a loss on his record just eight months after his pro debut, when a deep cut caused a scheduled six-round fight to be ruled as a TKO defeat instead of what should have been declared a Technical Draw.
The South American middleweight champion has defended his title five times and was ranked as highly as third place with the WBO just a few months ago.
Things you didn't know about Josh Kelly next opponent, Lucas Bastida
Quotes
Josh Kelly: “I'm buzzing, and I’m ready. There's no reason to sugar-coat the fact that my opponent will be putting even more into training to come and try to cause an upset. We are covering all bases in camp, and when you have world title aspirations you make sure you're preparing like a world champion. The WBO belt adds that additional spice to things, and it's about me going out there and being Josh Kelly that will see it leaving the arena with me in front of my friends and family. We are the North East, and we don't do things in half-measures. On fight night, I'll be there to push the pace and show why this will be the first belt of many.”
Lucas Bastida: “I’m in boxing to achieve my dream of becoming a world champion, and leaving my surname remembered and respected. I really appreciate this opportunity to fight for the WBO International belt in Newcastle. Winning this means everything and that’s why I’m prepared to travel abroad to compete. I have huge support from my family and my friends, they have a lot of faith in me. This is my first fight abroad, and I’m excited to travel to the UK and get to test myself against someone like Josh Kelly. I’ll go to the UK in the best condition I’ve been in. I know I have strong hands, I just need to be patient and wait for my moment. We are aware that we are going to his home, but in the ring it is just me and him. When the bell rings, we will see who’s better.”
Predictions
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “It's impossible not to like Lucas Bastida after all he's been through, having been innocently stabbed in a street mugging which saw the several tendons in his hand badly severed. He worked hard to make it back despite doctors telling him his boxing career was over. He just has a single loss on his record, very early on in his career, which he feels hard done by and unfairly treated from the away corner, but I think the Argentinian is slightly overmatched here. I believe he will do well for a few rounds, as a long-reigning South American middleweight champion, which is the same title once held by Carlos Monzon, so he should provide Kelly with some tough rounds early on, but then I expect the Brit to gradually dismantle the visitor round by round until the Sunderland FC fan forces the stoppage around the mid-rounds. Then, I would like to see him face British champion Troy Williamson next. Kelly wants to face the top 10 in the world, well Williamson is WBO #7 and has the Lonsdale belt, so what more incentive could you need to agree to that fight? Troy has already said he wants it, so let's make it happen!”
Related Articles
Everything you ever need to know about Kelly-Bastida can be found HERE
Betting Odds
1/8 Kelly
3/1 Bastida
22/1 Draw
Weights
Check back one day before fight night
Running Order
Main Event:
Josh Kelly vs Lucas Bastida
10×3 WBO International super-welterweight title
Chief Support:
Harlem Eubank vs Eliot Chavez
10×3 Super-lightweight contest
Pat McCormack vs Dimitri Trenel
6×3 Super-welterweight contest
Hosea Stewart vs Franklin Ignatius
4×3 Heavyweight Contest
Steve Robinson vs TBA
6×3 Heavyweight Contest
Kai Richmond vs TBA
4×3 Super-featherweight contest
Ben Marksby vs TBA
4×3 Super-lightweight contest
Lisa Whiteside vs TBA
6×2 Flyweight contest
Jordan Barker-Porter vs TBA
6×2 Lightweight contest
Aaron Chalmers vs TBA
4×3 Middleweight contest
