Josh Kelly ‘aiming for world titles’ after capturing British gold against Troy Williamson
- Seb Sternik
- 3 December 2022
Josh Kelly wants to target world title opportunities after picking up a unanimous points victory over Troy Williamson to become the British light-middleweight champion.
Kelly dominated proceedings from the opening bell and impressed the judges who scored the bout 118-110, 119-109 and 119-111.
Williamson, who was making his second defence of the title, succumbed to his first professional defeat.
Kelly has now won three successive fights since his sole defeat to David Avanesyan back in February 2021.
"People should surely know now how tough, how quick, how sharp I am," Kelly told iFL TV. "I feel like that performance there shows I can go all the way."
When asked whether he would now consider challenging for world honours, he said: "Troy was on the brink of world level, had the British title and he was chomping at the bit for that.
"Why not? I'm ready. Troy is as tough as they come and I've got massive respect for Troy. I knew he'd be game, I knew he would come and knew he would throw hard shots to try and get us out of there. I'm aiming for world titles."
He later added: "I'm a go to floor kind of guy. That's what I did tonight. Natural instinct, gut instinct. That serves us. Serves us in day-to-day life and serves us in boxing. When the next opportunity comes, I want to grab it with both hands."
Before Friday's bout, Williamson questioned Kelly's heart at the pre-fight press conference.
The Sunderland-born fighter believes he proved those critics wrong, saying: "I knew I had heart and he knows that as well. From where I was 18 months ago, on the floor. Mental health. Suffering with demons. You wouldn't even realise it bro.
"My wife. The people in my team. Close friends. They got us through. To get where I am now shows how much heart I've got."
