‘Ryan has got to do something awfully wrong to lose to River’, says Costello

Kelly and trainer Costello…plotting Wilson-Bent’s downfall

JOHN Costello, the man training Ryan Kelly for next month’s super-fight showdown with River Wilson-Bent, has declared: “Ryan has got to do something awfully wrong to lose this fight.”

The two talented middleweights meet for the vacant Commonwealth silver belt on a BCB show at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham, on October 27. For West Midlands fans, it’s a match made in heaven. It’s a mouthwatering, 50-50 fight.

“It’s a brilliant fight for Birmingham,” said Costello, who first worked with Kelly when the Chelmsley Wood contender was a schoolboy fighter.

“No one who I’ve talked to in boxing thinks River’s going to win, no one,” he said. “The only person who can beat Ryan in this fight is Ryan.”

Costello, a coach who wears his heart on his sleeve, underlined his deep respect for River, but took exception to claims the Coventry ticketseller wanted to face Kelly long before the match was made.

In fairness, River told me he approached manager Jon Pegg over the possibility of fighting Kelly. I’m not aware that wish went any further at the time.

“We’re doing River a favour,” Costello, one of the game’s blunt talkers, insisted. “No one from their side asked us for the fight. The bottom line is, if they asked, they would’ve got it a long time ago.”

And he has rubbished claims Kelly is a blown-up light-middle.

“Ryan is a totally different fighter now,” he said, “and I’m going to have to work damn hard to get him down to middleweight. I don’t suffer fools in the gym and Ryan gives everything he’s got.

“People are judging him on what he did at Eastside (the Birmingham gym where Kelly began his pro career), but he’s a totally different fighter.”

Kelly, aged 29, is a rich talent. He’s lost only four of 21 contest and all against top lads.

He looked very unlucky to lose on a split decision to unbeaten prospect Brad Pauls.

Adam Harper beat him on points for the Midlands belt, top operator Michael McKinson gained the decision down at welter.

The only real stain on his record is a stoppage loss to thunderous punching Hamzah Sheeraz, one of Britain’s hottest prospects – a bout he took while in Dubai.

“He got ripped off against Brad Pauls, everyone knows that,” said Costello. “Had he a coach for Sheeraz (Ryan trained himself in Dubai), I believe it would’ve been a different fight. All he did was make weight.

“Ryan was a welterweight for McKinson – he got down to 10st 7lbs. He’s not a welterweight, it takes hard work to get him down to middle.”

Costello added: “I have nothing but respect for River Wilson-Bent. Boxing needs people like Ryan and River.

“They’ve both done it the hard way, the difference is, Ryan’s learned from his mistakes.”

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