Josh Kelly’s return on Friday night was pulled abruptly at the last minute.
Kelly will stream on Channel 5 as part of Wasserman Boxing’s first fight night with the free-to-air channel.
The 2016 track and field athlete, who hasn’t competed since losing to David Avanesyan in February 2021, was against Xhuljo Vrenozi. However, at the last minute the fight was pulled.
“He’s not coming out of his hotel room to get to the venue,” Kelly dejectedly told fans inside The Indigo at O2.
“I was told at 8pm tonight I was warming up in the dressing room and he was out. I feel for everyone. The support I received tonight was unbelievable. Everyone’s tickets tonight will be valid for the match against Liverpool on June 17 where I will be in boxing. ”
Kelly’s new promoter, Kalle Sauerland, explained today’s events to Channel 5’s Andy Clarke.
“Josh was 1.2 kg overweight yesterday. They knew he was going to put on about that weight. So we sat down after weighing. Josh has no way to continue and turns 1.2kg weight is not a big request. We shake hands, it’s the camera. Then this afternoon they said we don’t box. So we thought okay, is it a money thing? So we tested the water there. In fact, we tested it very heavily. Obviously not a money thing. In my view, he’s just bottling to put it bluntly. ”
Sauerland said he took time on the phone earlier today to urge Vrenozi and his team to come to some sort of resolution.
“I said let’s get down to the venue and we’ll put you both on the scale and we’ll see because I believe the guy’s last game is in middleweight. Regardless (and) at the time, I knew we were fighting a losing battle. Was thinking of swapping matches, talked to the Board of Directors (Boxing) but we only had one foreigner who could join, but it was too late for the Board of Directors. We tried everything.”
