Josh Kelly is set to clash with Colombian knockout specialist Placido Ramirez in his hometown of Sunderland on December 16, broadcast live on DAZN.
Kelly, known as ‘Pretty Boy’, was initially scheduled to fight Roarke Knapp, but an injury has sidelined the South African, leading to the cancellation of their super welterweight showdown at the Beacon of Light.
Stepping into the ring in place of Knapp is Ramirez, a 29-year-old with a reputation for powerful punches. Ramirez arrives in Wearside next week with ambitions of propelling himself into world title contention by disrupting Kelly’s highly anticipated homecoming.
Ranked as the top dog in the 154lbs division, Kelly isn’t fazed by a last-minute opponent swap, welcoming Ramirez with open arms in place of the injured Roarke Knapp.
Kelly’s got his sights set on a parade of significant fights in 2024. When names like Conor Benn, Chris Eubank Junior, and Kell Brook popped up, Kelly didn’t mince words, promising to utterly dominate each one.
At a press event at the Stadium of Light, Kelly confidently claimed, “I’ll totally outclass them all. Each and every one. Why are they just circling each other? Time to step up and see who’s really the best.”
Kalle Sauerland, the big cheese of boxing at Wasserman, is all praises for Kelly, pointing out his world number one status and his grand homecoming this weekend. He’s excited about Kelly showcasing his skills on DAZN, setting the stage for some blockbuster fights next year.
Sauerland is banking on a fiery Ramirez this Saturday, acknowledging the Colombian’s knack for surprises but ruling out an upset in Sunderland. He’s already dreaming of Kelly’s potential top-contender fights in 2024.
Adam Booth, Kelly’s coach, acknowledges Ramirez’s experience and knockout power, but believes the tougher the fight, the better Kelly performs. Booth knows a thing or two about training heavy hitters, and he’s certain Kelly packs a serious punch.
Ramirez, with 17 KO wins to his name, is raring to go. He jumped at the chance for this fight, promising to bring his A-game and heavy fists on Saturday.
The event will also showcase British boxing’s rising stars, Dan Toward and Tom Welland, both ready for their second pro fights. It’s not just a fight night; it’s a showcase of the next generation of boxing talent.
Welland is joined by Dan Toward of Newcastle, who recently celebrated a remarkable knockout victory in his debut in Bolton. Both are showcased by Wasserman Boxing on DAZN as two of the UK’s most promising young boxers.
Adding to the event’s star power is hard-hitting Kazakh Tursynbay Kulakhmet, a former World Amateur Championships medalist. Kulakhmet, along with local talents Ben Marksby, Harvey Lambert, Travis Waters, and Romanian Andrei Dascalu, brings additional excitement to a card presented in association with William Hill.
However, the IBF world middleweight title eliminator between Denis Radovan and Andrei Mikhailovich has been postponed. Radovan, a German fighter ranked third with the IBF, has suffered a muscle injury, delaying his opportunity for a world title shot against champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.
Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing, commented on the situation, noting that while one tough opponent has been replaced, Ramirez’s entrance poses an equally high threat to Kelly’s future plans. Ramirez, who arrives in the UK next week with 17 knockouts to his name, has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Sauerland emphasized that Kelly, regarded as one of the country’s finest boxers, remains intensely focused on delivering an impressive performance in Sunderland. This fight is not just for his fans’ pride but also as a statement for his ambitions in 2024.
According to Sauerland, Kelly’s victory on December 16, showcased on DAZN, is set to perfectly position him for a breakthrough year in 2024.
Kelly vs. Ramirez Fight Night Details
Event Date and Start Time:
- Date: Saturday, December 16
- Start Time: The event kicks off at 7 p.m. UK time / 2 p.m. ET, with the main event featuring Josh Kelly and Placido Ramirez expected to have their ringwalks around 10 p.m. UK / 5 p.m. ET. Please be aware these times may be adjusted based on the duration of the undercard bouts.
Streaming on DAZN:
- The event will be streamed live on DAZN across over 200 countries.
- Subscriptions can be obtained here.
- In Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, viewers need to download the DAZN app and sign up via the app, not through a web browser.
Supported Devices for DAZN:
- DAZN is accessible on numerous platforms including:
- Mobile Devices: iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire tablets
- TV & Streaming Devices: Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Hisense, LG Smart TV, Smartcast, Panasonic, Samsung & Sony Smart TVs, Philips, Roku, Vestel, Vizio
- Game Consoles: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Venue:
- The fight is scheduled to take place at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland, England.
Fighter Records and Bios:
- Josh Kelly (British): Born on March 7, 1994, Kelly stands at 5′ 10″ with a 72″ reach and a record of 14-1-1, including 7 KOs.
- Placido Ramirez (Colombian): With a height of 5′ 11″ and a record of 24-3 with 1 NC (17 KOs). His date of birth and reach are not specified.
Full Fight Card:
- WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDERFirst bell scheduled for 17:25 GMT
6 Rounds Middleweight contest
Tursynbay Kulakhmet 161.7lbs
Fouad El Massoudi 162.1lbs6 Rounds Super Middleweight contest
Andrei Dascalu 166lbs
Angel Emilov 166.4lbs4 Rounds Super Welterweight contest
Harvey Lambert 149.2lbs
Fabio Cascone 154.15lbs6 Rounds Super Bantamweight contest
Tom Welland 126lbs
Yuri Zanoli 122.14lbs6 Rounds Super Lightweight contest
Ben Marksby 143.8lbs
Kurt Jackson 141.15lbs6 Rounds Super Welterweight contest
Travis Waters 149.8lbs
Mykhailo Sovtus 152.9lbs6 Rounds Super Welterweight contest
Dan Toward 155.4lbs
Nikolas Dzurnak 153.9lbsIBO World Super Welterweight title final eliminator
12 Rounds
Josh Kelly 153.8lbs
Placido Ramirez 153.2lbs