Josh Kelly vs. David Avanesyan co-feature on Whyte vs. Povetkin II on Jan.30

By Boxing News - 11/05/2020 - Comments

By Charles Brun: Eddie Hearn is planning Josh Kelly vs. David Avanesyan for the co-feature spot on the Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin II card on January 30th on Sky Box Office.

It’s a little risky for Kelly-Avaneysan to be scheduled for such a high profile card like the Whyte-Povetkin event.

In the long run, it might be better if Eddie Hearn gives Kelly a nudge and lets him know that he’s not ready for Avanesyan yet. He’s got too many bad habits, such as fighting with his hands down by his waist and backing up against the ropes.

Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn has been trying to get the Kelly-Avanesyan fight made for quite some time, but Kelly has dropped out. It would be better for Avanesyan (26-3-1, 14 KOs) to move on already focus on beating contenders higher up in the rankings.

Hearn needs to set up fights that have a high chance of actually happening, and Kelly vs. Avaneysan has proven to be an impossible one to take place.

“It looks like Kelly vs. Avanesyan will be chief support for Whyte vs. Povetkin,” said Hearn to IFL TV. ”

Image: Josh Kelly vs. David Avanesyan co-feature on Whyte vs. Povetkin II on Jan.30

Perhaps Avaneysan is too risky for Kelly, who doesn’t look like he’s going to have the career that many boxing fans thought he would when he turned pro in 2017. Kelly gets hit too much, mostly because of his habit of fighting with his hands down by his sides.

That’s probably won’t change because Kelly likes fighting with his hands down for some reason. I guess he likes to showboat, but it works against him because when he gets hit, he really gets tagged. Until now, Kelly hasn’t been facing punchers, but he’ll have problems with Avanesyan if he makes it to the ring without pulling out of the fight.

The 2016 Olympian Kelly (10-0-1, 6 KOs) has looked poor in his last two fights against Wiston Campos and Ray Robinson.  Many boxing fans thought Robinson was robbed of a victory against Kelly last year on Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr card in June 2019 in New York.

The crowd at ringside at Madison Square Garden booed the results and let Matchroom know ht they thought about the decision.

Robinson would like a rematch with Kelly, but none has been given to him as of yet. That would have been the wise move on Hearn’s part rather than sticking Kelly in with journeyman Campos.

Image: Josh Kelly vs. David Avanesyan co-feature on Whyte vs. Povetkin II on Jan.30

If Kelly does make it to the fight with Avanesyan without becoming ill and pulling out, it’s likely to end badly for him. Avanesyan has greatly improved his game in the last year, and he’s knocked out Kerman Lejarraga [twice] and Jose del Rio.