JOSH KELLY believes Conor Benn is out to make “commercial money” but insists a fight between the two would still generate significant income for them both.
Several years ago Benn and Kelly had created a strong rivalry while fighting under the same promotional banner at Matchroom. Benn remains integral to Matchroom but Kelly left Eddie Hearn’s team in 2021 to join the Sauerland brothers at Wasserman. But interest in facing Benn has never left Kelly’s plans.
In April Benn’s stock rose after a brave showing during his defeat against Chris Eubank Jr at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A rematch clause could lead to a return bout between the two while Benn hasn’t been shy in calling out marquee names such as Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis.
“He might want to take these fantasy fights and get them free losses on his record,” Kelly said of Benn.
“That’s a free loss against Eubank. The performance is good [but] Eubank was dead [at the weight]. If he goes against Haney or ‘Tank’ it’s a free loss. He’s doing the best to make commercial money but I’m not a small name – I’m commercially valuable. A fight against me you wouldn’t be dropping a lot of money.”
Kelly, 16-1-1 (8 KOs), returns to the ring tomorrow night in a 10-round main event against Romania’s Flavius Biea, 24-1 (12 KOs) at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena. Sunderland’s Kelly is currently ranked #4 with the WBO and in the same position with the IBF one spot ahead of Benn.
The 31-year-old’s career requires a defining fight, though. His British title win against Troy Williamson in December 2022 remains his biggest victory. Kelly told Boxing News that should he defeat Biea then he is “one million per cent” chasing bigger opportunities.
“The harder the fight the better I am,” he remarked.
“The bigger the fight the better I am. The more people there, the more lively it is… get the stage set, the right opponent to see the best version of me to date.”
The super-welterweight scene remains a congested and talented one but of the champions and contenders around Kelly revealed which one he would be a “nightmare” for.
“Bakhram Murtazaliev. I think that would be a great fight and I would love to take the challenge. Them fights are 50-50. People would probably favour him but I want to be in them fights, I want to test myself.”
Murtazaliev announced himself on the world scene with a destructive performance against former WBO titlist Tim Tszyu. His third-round win over the Australian raised eyebrows around the world. Kelly, however, thinks his style is all wrong for the Russian.
“I feel like I’m a nightmare for him. I watched him against Jack Culcay. He was getting beat until he stopped Culcay. Culcay punched himself out. So, I just got little inklings here and there.”
