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Josh Kelly is hoping to make a triumphant return to the ring this weekend, aiming to pave the way for a significant 2024. The WBO's top-rated super welterweight is gearing up to face Colombian powerhouse Placido Ramirez (24-3, 17 KO’s), expressing newfound confidence in his punching power.
"I am punching genuinely hard now. I’m not sure if it’s the weight, the maturity, or the belief," shared Kelly (14-1-1, 7 KO’s). "I’m not trying, but I’m putting guys out in sparring and putting people down. It’s starting to go to a whole new level."
Reflecting on his victory over Troy Williamson a year ago, a pivotal moment in his career, Kelly emphasized the importance of self-confidence gained since his stoppage defeat to David Avanesyan in 2021.
"It’s not believing in yourself now, it’s knowing stuff about yourself," he affirmed. "To be able to go to the next level and challenge for world titles and challenge at the top, you have to know you’ve got that something about you.
I’ve been tested plenty of times in the gym, plenty of times in the professionals and amateurs. I know where I’m at. I know where I’m destined to be going. It’s just a matter of time till we get there."
Looking ahead, assuming Kelly secures victory against Ramirez, his promoter Kalle Sauerland has ambitious plans for 2024. Despite the aspirations of WBO super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu, Kelly is poised to push for a showdown with the excellent and exciting Australian.
"Big fights. Everyone knows I like a domestic blockbuster," remarked Sauerland. "There’s a few names circling about. Chris Eubank Jnr, Conor Benn, I’ve heard about Kell Brook returning. There’s some very, very interesting domestic fights to make. At the same time, there’s big world fights to make. I’ll be honest, I prefer the British ones because they’re big, but we’ll see what we can do."
Kelly's hometown showdown sets the stage for what could be a thrilling journey toward championship contention in the super welterweight division.
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