Costello: Full respect for Wilson-Bent, this is strictly business

Ryan Kelly…faces River Wilson-Bent in a potential thriller on October 27

JOHN Costello has stressed his deep respect for River Wilson-Bent – the Coventry middle who faces his own fighter Ryan Kelly in a huge title battle – but warned: “This is business, strictly business, that’s all it is.”

Chelmsley Wood’s Kelly meets River at Birmingham’s Holiday Inn on October 27 in a 10 rounder that has all the ingredients for a classic. It is a truly mouth-watering match-up between two highly rated boxers with the vacant Commonwealth silver belt on the line.

It will be a sell-out. No doubt, both have big followings.

There’s respect from Costello, but also supreme confidence in Kelly and what he can do on the night.

“I take nothing away from River,” he said. “River doesn’t pull away from a challenge. Boxing needs more kids like Ryan and River. They both want serious fights because they know only serious fights will get them where they want to be.”

But Costello feels  two stoppage defeats suffered by the Coventry contender in the last 12 months – to big punching Hamzah Sheeraz, a man tipped for very big things, and former top draw American amateur Austin Williams – have blunted the boxer.

“He took two beating and Sheeraz was a complete beat-down,” he said. “I think they will play a real part in this fight.

“River will come out and believe in himself, he’ll believe he can cause problems, but that changes when you get a punch in the mouth.

“Ryan’s a very, very physical fighter. I’m very, very confident.

“Training’s gone very well – it never goes perfect, but it’s gone very well. Ryan is looking a million dollars.”

In fairness, Kelly has also been stopped by Sheeraz, but took the 2019 bout while working in Dubai and training himself.

“Ryan and I know what he’s capable of. I know why he didn’t get the results in the past, he now knows why he didn’t win those fights.

“For Sheeraz, he was in Dubai and got three weeks notice for a world class performer. All he did was make weight. When I look at the fight, if Ryan had been looking after himself and been in the right place, that was a fight he could’ve won.”

Kelly has lost only four of 21, the last coming via highly controversial decision against then unbeaten prospect Brad Pauls. Many felt Ryan should’ve had his hand raised.

“Brad Pauls was his first live opponent (since returning to Birmingham),” said Costello, “so he went into the fight with a lot of demons. At the end, his left hand was like a balloon when the glove came off.

“He said he felt really strong in that fight. He’s a middleweight (Ryan began his career as a light-middle), thick set, it’s hard work to get him down to the limit.”

Prepare for a tremble in Birmingham on October 27. When River and Ryan rumble the streets will shake.