Costello: Ryan won, but under-performed
Kelly and Costello....facing a rematch with Gerome Warburton
FOR Ryan Kelly, the journey towards a British title fight has been stalled, but not derailed.
The marauding Chelmsley Wood middle – a fighter with a huge fanbase – must first again defend his Commonwealth silver belt against Gerome Warburton after the pair battled to a draw in June.
That may happen in November. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility the bout could be for the full Commonwealth title should it become vacant in the meantime.
In truth, 30-year-old Kelly’s stalemate with Welshman Warburton left a sense of frustration. The overwhelming opinion was Ryan, taking part in his 24th contest, should’ve have had his hand raised in victory.
But he had the tools to win beyond argument. He allowed rounds to become close and open to interpretation when they didn’t have to be. Watching TV coverage of the Bolton bout, there were moments when I was mentally screaming at Kelly to open the throttle.
Trainer John Costello – honest and straight-talking – pulled no punches as he assessed the contest.
“Ryan beat Gerome Warburton, but on the night Ryan under-performed,” he said. “It’s very frustrating.”
Warburton is a talented southpaw who has lost only one of 17, but he hasn’t mixed it with the kind of top names who have shared a ring with Ryan.
Kelly’s faced world class Hamzah Sheeraz, looked very unlucky to be declared a split decision loser to current British champ Brad Pauls and beat River Wilson-Bent for the silver title. River is in IBF European championship action on September 27.
“It was bitterly disappointing,” Costello admitted. “Me and Errol (BCB Promotions boss Errol Johnson) were pulling our hair out. I don’t want to take anything away from Gerome Warburton because he is a very good middleweight who would give anyone in the country a good fight, but Ryan had it in his locker to beat him beyond argument.”
“I said to Ryan, ‘you have to start telling yourself you’re losing the fight’. He cannot leave things to chance. We have spoken about it and we are singing from the same hymn sheet. For that reason, the Warburton fight has done me and Ryan a real favour.”
Costello insisted Kelly is a special talent. Both he and his boxer burn to face Brad Pauls again. Ryan’s 2022 performance against the Newquay Bomb looks very, very impressive following Pauls’ 12th round KO of Nathan Heaney for the Lonsdale Belt.
Costello added: “We are waiting on the return with Warburton and we’re happy to do that. There are two fights that are important to us – Warburton and Pauls.”
And this time against Warburton, a prospect who carries the ring nickname “Bread Man”, Ryan will use his loaf.