Harper picks Kelly to win Brum superfight
Harper…he believes fans are in for a thriller
IT is the fight that has sent a tidal wave of excitement across Birmingham. Listen on the streets and you can hear the buzz.
On Friday, the buzz becomes a deafening roar. On Friday, Chelmsley Wood’s Ryan Kelly and River Wilson-Bent meet for the Commonwealth silver middleweight title in a stand-off for the ages.
On Friday, the city centre’s Holiday Inn will be a boiling cauldron of noise.
The showdown is a sell-out. It was always going to be a sell-out because this is what Kelly and Wilson-Bent do.
They compete in big fights. They leave it all in the ring. They are entertainers at the highest level.
They provided thrills – and this has all the ingredients to be the most thrilling fight of their combined careers.
It’s a 50-50 fight, a contest that has divided opinion straight down the middle.
And who better to assess it than Tewkesbury’s Adam Harper, a man who has been a lot closer to Kelly and Wilson-Bent than you or I? He’s shared a ring with them.
Ryan Kelly…people underestimate his toughness, says Harper
Harper outpointed Kelly for the Midlands light-middleweight belt in 2017. He beat Wilson-Bent in the amateurs over a decade ago and has sparred him in the pro ranks.
The former English champ picks Kelly to win. He doesn’t want Kelly to win – Harper’s quite candid about that, but believes his former 11st rival will prevail.
“River Wilson-Bent is more than a capable operator, but stylistically I think Kelly is wrong for him,” he said. “How Kelly does it, I’m not sure. That’s all down to the night.
“Kelly is back with his former amateur coach and River Wilson-Bent is with a new coach. That could be a massive factor. River’s made the biggest change of his (boxing) life in the biggest fight of his (boxing) life.
“It’s no secret me and Kelly are not on each other’s Christmas card lists. I’ll be rooting for River Wilson-Bent, I class him as a boxing friend. I hope he wins in sensational fashion.
“But my head says Kelly is going to win and look good doing it. I think he’s wrong for Wilson-Bent at this stage in his career.
“If he takes it to Kelly, he can walk into shots. Can he outbox Kelly? I’m not sure – Kelly has only really been outboxed by Michael McKinson (Ryan lost on points in 2019, at welter). I outworked him.
River Wilson-Bent…top operator who has only lost to the best
Can he out-fight Kelly? I don’t think so. Kelly is a lot tougher than he’s given credit for.
“Is Kelly a middleweight (Ryan has spent most of his career at light-middle)? I’ve no doubt he can tip the scales at 11st. Whether he can perform at 11st is something only he and his coach can answer. People put on weight as they get older, that’s a fact. Yes, I believe Kelly’s a middleweight.”
With a wry smile, Harper said: “You have to be a very, very good fighter to beat Kelly. He’s only lost to good fighters.”
In fairness, so has River.
The loser, says Harper, faces a long haul back to where he wants to be.
“Where do they go from there? Both, let’s be honest, have lost at English title level, albeit against very good opposition – and Kelly was ripped off against Brad Pauls. Would either want to step down to area title level?
“They fight for the prestigious Commonwealth silver belt on Friday, it’s a nice belt, it’s a good step-up on the ladder. If River wins, he’s pretty much the gatekeeper for British title contenders.”
Harper has no doubt the fans are in for a cracker.
He added: “In these 50-50 fights, the better man will usually win. That’s the joy and glory of this sport and fights like this. The fans are in for a fantastic fight.”
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