Kelly gets WBC title shot
Eastsides Ryan Kelly starts off 2019 the way he ended 2018 on the road, the Ruthless one will be heading down to the Brentwood centre in Essex on the 9th of March to take on unbeaten champion Michael McKinson for his WBC international Silver welterweight belt. McKinson (24) is a southpaw from Portsmouth who now resides in Belfast Northern Ireland has a impressive record of 15 wins and no defeats. He won the WBC strap in his 11th fight on points in a unanimous decision against Ryan Martin (8/4/17). McKinson has defended the title twice in his last 4 fights and on paper this looks like a tough fight for Kelly.
Kelly (25) also has an impressive record with 13 wins in 14 fights and has proved that he travels well when he stopped Nathan Hardy in the seventh round in Bolton in December of last year. Kelly is also not adverse to taking someone’s unbeaten record when he stopped unbeaten fighter Kalcie Ball 9-0 in the first round live on Sky sports when he defended his Super welterweight Midlands Area title on the Matchroom show at Birmingham Arena (8/9/18). I managed to catch up with Kelly and asked him how he felt when he heard the news? Ryan told me “I was over the moon about the news and I’m ready to snatch the title away from him” I then asked Kelly how he felt about fighting away again? He told me “yeah I’ll be away from home but I’m going to be taking a load of brummies to Brentwood” Kelly finished by saying “the WBC international silver welterweight title is coming back to Birmingham”. Dexter’s Thoughts
It is great news that Ryan has got this shot especially after the disappointment of not getting his shot at the WBO European title when he fought in Bolton before Christmas. Kelly has been on a roll since his defeat against Harper and it seems to me that, that defeat has learnt him a lot as he has looked a more complete fighter. Ryan won on the road in Bolton before Christmas and I can see him upsetting the apple cart down in Essex by taking McKinson's 0 and bringing the WBC International Silver welterweight title home to Birmingham. The Birmingham Boxing Column will be looking to get a full interview with the Ruthless one in the next few weeks.