Ruthless Ryan back and hungry for glory
Kelly…back after a 10 month break and gunning for top honours
RYAN Kelly, one of Birmingham’s most exciting and popular fighters, is back – and hungry to join the pack for top titles.
After close to a year away, the Chelmsley Wood ticketseller will ease back at Edgbaston’s H Suite on March 24. An opponent has yet to be named, but I don’t expect too demanding a night’s work.
It’s a welcome return to arms for a boxer who has crammed a lot of action into his 20 bout career. At the age of 29, “Ruthless Ryan”, now trained by John Costello, still has time to fight for a British title.
He showed his worth last time out by pushing unbeaten middleweight prospect Brad Pauls to a split points decision. Many felt Ryan had done enough to clinch victory, Kelly certainly believed he should’ve had his hand raised.
Pauls was, this month, put in his place by English middleweight champ Tyler Denny.
Announcing next month’s date on facebook, Ryan said: “So, after another 10 months out the ring I am back, March 24 at the H Suite, Birmingham.
“Been a frustrating few months being inactive and having a few things going on behind the scenes.
“After this fight I’m pushing on for titles. Ten months out and still placed at number 17 in Britain, so it’s only a matter of time before the phone rings.
“I appreciate every single one of my sponsors and supporters. Appreciate all the support. Let the journey continue.”
Kelly has packed a lot into his eight years as a pro and appeared on a string of major televised shows.
At light-middle, he took the Midlands title, then moved down to welter where he was outpointed by Michael McKinson for the WBC international silver belt. No shame there – McKinson has gone on to establish himself as a world class operator.
Ryan then put his career on hold while working in a Dubai gym. While over there, he accepted a call to face big punching Hamzah Sheeraz at Birmingham Utilita Arena.
He arrived back in the UK ill-prepared for such a dangerous assignment and was stopped in six.
Since returning to Birmingham, Kelly, now with Black Country Boxing Promotions, has had three contests. He’s ready to fight to the top again.
Back in November, Ryan said: “It’s been a difficult few months, just staying in the gym and ticking over, so I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring and letting my hands go again.
“I’ll never give up on getting the rematch with Brad Pauls, but I have to move on in the meantime. We can do it whenever he wants, he will never catch me off guard.
“I truly believed that I’d beaten him that night, because I felt that comfortable in there. I really didn’t see it going the other way and the result was, in my opinion, disgusting.
“I felt that I’d won clearly and that was with one hand. My left hand was swollen from round two and it wasn’t easy, but I got to the finish. We struggled to get it out of the glove.
“As soon as it was over, I had 10 days out of the gym and then we had a date for a rematch, but he pulled out, for no good reason that I’ve ever been given.
“With the time that has passed, it’s obvious that he doesn’t want any part of me again. He can do whatever on social media, he’s blocked me so I can’t have a go back, anyway!
“I’ve never refused an opponent, I’ve always got in there and had a go. I can’t let him, or anyone else, hold me back, when I’m there or thereabouts at that level.
“I’m coming towards the later part of my career and I’ve got to get some sort of title around my waist in 2023. There’s no reason why that shouldn’t happen.”