With just over five weeks left until they fight for the British super title, Northeastern rivals Troy Williamson and Josh Kelly start their mind game, writes Elliot Worsell
It seems inevitable that the word “strength” will get a lot of talk ahead of the December 2 showdown between British super-heavyweight champion Troy Williamson and Northeastern rival Josh Kelly.
A word that is never easy to define, that is, where this fight involves, it is bound to focus on both the physical prowess of the two fighters involved and also of equal importance, strength. their spirit. For Kelly, 12-1-1 (7), you get the feeling that the mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical, while for Williamson, 19-0-1 (14), much of the His confidence comes from a belief that Kelly, a former weightlifter, will not be able to confront him physically when the pair meet in Newcastle in December.
Chances are, the winner, as always, will be the one who masters both the mental and physical side of the game. Until then, however, the two will be looking to strengthen those aspects – physical and mental – in the five weeks leading up to the fight.
“I’m just comfortable with it,” said Kelly, the challenger Boxing News at Tuesday’s press conference to announce the war. “I feel ready and I am confident. It’s no different (with his two previous games this year). I feel like I’m in good flow and I don’t really need to come out of it. Even though I’ve only had 13 professional matches, I’m experienced enough to deal with all of this.
“It’s all part of the process,” he said of the growing interest in the Williamson fight. “It’s all part of the show. You have to do it in your stride and just relax and make it all fun. At the end of the day, it’s all about building this war.
“I feel like I have more experience in these situations than he does. I am too experienced and too skillful to put anyone under my skin.”
Familiarity breeds many things, including contempt. It also provides insight and awareness into buttons to press and vulnerabilities to exploit, which Williamson knows better than most.
“We spent a lot of time together, going to a lot of tournaments on the train,” he said BN. “I went to Sheffield and appreciated him. We did a lot of rounds.
“Aside from boxing, I like Josh. It is a good child. But it’s a business, isn’t it? This is a game that hurts. You have to put the friendship aside. Then we can shake hands and be friends. Nothing personal. It is just business. This is my job.”
Speaking of business, Williamson doesn’t need to be reminded of the importance of a boxer in marketing and promotion, to the online fans or the fans who congregate in soccer stadiums across the country. country every weekend. That’s why he understands Kelly’s decision to stick with Sunderland Football Club, his hometown team, even while trying to believe Kelly has any real interest in football. rock or not.
“He said (in an earlier interview) he doesn’t mind football, but what kind of person doesn’t mind football?” Williamson said. “We all love football, don’t we? All just a fake. Now suddenly he’s a Sunderland fan; Over the past few weeks, he has been a huge Sunderland supporter. “
Williamson, 31, continued: “I wore the Newcastle shirt for his last game (in July), but everyone who knows me knows what I’m doing. I have never been on the pitch and said I support Newcastle. I only wear the top to get under my skin and ruffle a few feathers. Obviously it worked. Everyone knows I’m from Darlington and trained in Middlesbrough. “
Of their aforementioned exchanges, Kelly admits that he remembers very little. However, he remembers having the upper hand – “I do better than them” – which gives him some confidence in himself before the pair reunite in a more competitive sense before the end of the year. Furthermore, this belief is supported by a recent move to the superweight class, a division in which he feels as comfortable as he once felt.
“I feel like this is my natural weight,” he says. “It’s nice to be able to focus only on one opponent and a fight coming up rather than having to focus on those things and build weight. Last match (against Lucas Bastida in July) I look the bigger of the two anyway. This is definitely my natural weight, I just need to take steps to get there. I feel a lot more comfortable here.”
Better than comfort, Kelly feels stronger. He feels stronger than he did when competing as a heavyweight and more than that, he expects to feel stronger than Troy Williamson as the pair draw close in Newcastle.
“He’s obviously a strong kid who loves the game, but I believe I’ll be stronger than him physically when he loses weight, because he’s having a hard time at the weights,” Kelly said. “I think he will be shocked by that, and I think a lot of people underestimate my strength. But I’ve fought super middleweights and light-heavyweights and was able to push them back. It takes more technique to do that. It’s not just physically strong or big. It’s about being able to maneuver yourself into positions and put your power on people.”
Caught somewhere between amused and offended, Williamson, upon hearing Kelly’s announcement, could only laugh.
“I think that’s completely absurd,” he replied. “I don’t struggle to gain weight. I ate, slept and boxed and never went to parties or anything like that. I’ve had 10 weeks to gain weight and not gain weight (since his last fight). If you look at my last game (in September), I was 12 kick 3 and not fat at all. I only weighed 12 stones because I only had a week’s notice. This time I’ll do better weightlifting than I’ve ever done.
“I think he had two fights with the super welder. He doesn’t actually fight anyone at 11 stone. You put him in with the opponents I’ve fought in this weight class and I don’t think he’s going to get the job done. “
In addition to strength, “toughness” is another word that is often repeated when referring to these two words, especially by Williamson. He’s relied on his own toughness to help him get through his battles against the likes of Ted Cheeseman and Mason Cartwright, and not only that, but he suspects it’s something that’s flawed. Kelly, who he says is “very talented”.
“I don’t think he likes it when it gets tough,” Williamson said. “He likes to play the game at his own pace. When it gets tough, and he’s cut, and he’s taken out of his comfort zone, I don’t think he’s going to cope.
“I am in my favor in terms of size, strength, punch power, fitness and sheer determination. Also, hungry, if I’m honest. It showed in my previous matches where I got down on the tarp and got up and got the job done. But when he had his tough moments in the fights, he was half-bottled and the corner kick threw the towel in. I feel that will be an important factor when we fight. “
Perhaps Williamson’s greatest asset going into the fight this December 2 is his steadfastness to reality. Meaning, while he is as confident as any champion set to defend the title, the man from Darlington has enough of him to confront and accept the reality of his situation. , both good and bad. That, in many ways, is real The power of spirit.
“I’m under no illusions, I’ll probably fail (on the scoreboard) in the first few rounds,” he admitted. “He is very fast, he is very polished. But it’s a marathon, a 12-round match, and at some point I’ll catch up with him. At that point, will he cope or will he fall? I think he will fall apart in the rounds after things start to get tough.”
Kelly, of course, a 28-year-old who has fought his fair share of demons and, he believes, conquered them, couldn’t disagree more with this prediction. To his mind, it wasn’t even a question. He will, when the time comes, if the time comes, have all the answers needed for Williamson.
“I am faster, more technical and a better fighter,” he said. “I think the only way for him is to try to win, go forward, take one for one. He must have such mentality.
“If I am training for an opponent who only rushes non-stop, how can I Not Preparing for a pressure battle? He couldn’t hit me because if he did he would be beaten. So he had to try and fight me. I’ve been in a lot of those wars now. I know the score and I know what’s going to happen. I will prepare for that.
“I believe he will eventually continue with a shot he didn’t see coming and end up injured and knocked down. A lot of people think I’m a runner, and I can do it round after round, but I can also dig a little deeper. If he wanted to advance recklessly, he would get hurt. I believe that could be the deciding factor. But if he moves forward in 12 rounds, he will also be defeated. “
*** Troy Williamson defends his English superman title against Josh Kelly on December 3 at Newcastle Arena, LIVE on Channel 5 ***
