Exclusive: Kalle Sauerland reveals Josh Kelly's return to the ring
- Joe Hewlett
- 7 January 2022
Kelly will be returning for the first time since tasting a first professional defeat to Russia's David Avanesyan.
Josh Kelly will return to the ring in 2022 but in a new direction.
Not only has the 2016 Olympian joined Wasserman Boxing, but he will also venture into a new weight class at light middleweight.
Kelly, previously promoted by Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn, is looking to bounce back following the first defeat of his career to David Avanesyan.
Despite a promising start to the contest in February of last year, Kelly got stopped in round six of the welterweight showdown at the SSE Arena in London.
His new promoter Kalle Sauerland has exclusively told Planet Sport about when fans can expect to see the 27-year-old again.
"It's looking like March. We're going to announce a few things in the UK in January, a few different dates and Josh Kelly will be out in March. It's going to be an active year for him and he'll be back out again in May and onwards - he's got to stay active," Sauerland said.
"He's taken that time off and worked with Adam [Booth] and I think you're going to see a very, very strong Josh Kelly in 2022."
Kelly's showmanship in the ring alongside his hand speed and head movement made him one of the brightest prospects in British boxing not so long ago.
However, one win in three fights and ring inactivity has slowed down Kelly's progress of climbing the world rankings - although Sauerland is confident of him returning to the world title picture.
"He was talked about as if he was already a world champion not so long ago and it was far too quick but he's one of a handful of UK hopefuls.
"I'm putting him together with the likes of Joshua Buatsi - and he's had that tag to live up to and now I think the pressure is off a bit but you can look at it two ways. The pressure is off a bit but he's got it all to prove.
"Anyone who knows boxing knows he's very gifted. I think he's made of the right metal to show everyone talking highly about him were correct and like I said, I believe we will see an improved Josh Kelly in 2022," Sauerland added.
