Josh Kelly will attempt to become world champion tonight - six months before ex-Sunderland teammate Jordan Pickford does likewise with England
Josh Kelly and Jordan Pickford
Josh Kelly and Jordan Pickford
View Image
is determined to put Sunderland on the map - before his old pal Jordan Pickford beats him to it.
Kelly will attempt to dethrone the undefeated Bakhram Murtazaliev in neighbouring Newcastle tonight. Doing so would crown the super-welterweight as Sunderland's first-ever boxing world champion. And it would give him six months to bask in his glory before Pickford's England begin their World Cup campaign with Thomas Tuchel's men among the tournament favourites.
Kelly and Pickford played together in Sunderland's academy before the former laced up a different pair of gloves. Pickford, now between the sticks at Everton, hit the big time first and was cashing cheques while Kelly was pounding pavements. But the 31-year-old plans to trump England's No.1 by beating the keeper to the pair’s first piece of major silverware.
"I'm not sure if Pickford will ever come back and play for Sunderland, but you've got these stars who never really get linked back to the club," he said. "That's why I want to become the first world champion from the city and leave that legacy for people. I grew up with Pickford and was in the same academy team as him when we were kids.
"I remember I was out running one time and Pickford drove past and beeped. He was in a big Range Rover and I was thinking, 'I've made no money out of this game yet, but he's driving that!'. I wondered if I'd chosen the wrong sport but it only made me more determined and I feel like I'm reaping the rewards now.
"But if he lifts that World Cup then I want to at least have a feel of it. I want to be on the field lifting it; I'll just run on and see if anyone catches me - they'll be catching a few left hooks along the way!”
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Content Image
Kelly might be the only sportsperson who can bridge the Tyne-Wear divide. Tonight's showdown will mark his seventh walk to a Newcastle ring - but he dreams of gracing the home of the Black Cats as world champion. "When it comes to football, of course I'm Sunderland and when we're playing Newcastle we hate them and they hate us," he added.
"That's a strong word to use, but we definitely dislike each other, especially now we're both in the Premier League. But when fight nights come about, I think people join together in the North East and come together for the fighters, which is a special thing because it rarely happens and it definitely wouldn't happen in football. I know I'll fulfill my dream of boxing in the Stadium of Light, but we've got this fight to take care of first."