Josh Kelly vs Gabriel Corzo: Fight verdict and tips

Kelly will be looking for a fourth consecutive win and to continue his charge towards a world title belt at the expense of little-known Corzo in his native North East.

Date, start time and venue

Kelly will fight Gabriel Alberto Corzo on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle. The fight is scheduled for 10 rounds in the super welterweight division, live on DAZN. Ring walk approximately 10pm.

DAZN undercard

Steve Robinson vs Franklin Ignatius (heavyweight)

Codie Smith vs Francisco Rodriguez (featherweight)

Liam Dillon vs Qais Ashfaq (super featherweight)

Ben Marksby vs Ricardo Fernandez (super lightweight)

Troy Williamson vs Ramiro Blanco (super welterweight)

Samuel Antwi vs Ruben Angulo (super welterweight)

Kai Richmond vs Karl Sampson (super featherweight)

Owen Rees vs. Marius Istrate (super lightweight)

Tom Summerbell vs. Eligio Palacios (super welterweight)

Suggested bets

Kelly to win via KO, TKO or disqualification (4/5)

Kelly fight verdict

Kelly (13-1-1) returns to the ring on Saturday looking to maintain the momentum he gained in his last fight against Troy Williamson.

Kelly's confidence returned in a dominant win over Williamson last December as he became the new British super welterweight champion with a punch-perfect performance.

Kelly outclassed his rival, who will fight on the undercard on Saturday, via a unanimous decision. The writing was on the wall for Kelly's Darlington rival from round one when the Sunderland man landed an uppercut and left-hook combination which rocked the Darlington man.

Kelly looked every bit the talent he has shown in glimpses previously and his trainer Adam Booth reinforced that the sky's the limit for the 29-year-old.

"I have said from day one he is the most talented fighter I have worked with. He has had to overcome monumental mental issues and we are starting to unearth his potential. He is only interested in being the best," said Booth.

Career stalled

Kelly's career has stalled over the last few years. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lead up to and defeat to David Avanesyan derailed the 'Pretty Boy'.

Kelly was out of the ring for two years before his defeat to British-based Avanesyan at Wembley Arena in February 2021.

Russian Avanesyan was ultimately too tough for Kelly, who saw his trainer step in and throw in the towel in round six after some heavy punishment. Kelly just could not keep Avanesyan off him, although he did rock his opponent in round two of the contest.

Kelly was due to fight Argentinian Corzo last month but a minor injury saw the fight put off until Saturday.

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing believes Kelly is primed to deliver a "statement performance to the rest of the division".

The bookies fully expect a home win with Kelly, who is no. 2 in the WBO rankings, a best-priced 1/9. His opponent 'El Terrible' is unbeaten and a 7/1 outsider and his first venture outside of Argentina looks a big ask.

Corzo is the younger man by a year, but is slightly the smaller man, with both fighters' experiencing the similar amount of rounds in their careers to date.

Power advantage

Kelly does look to have a big power advantage though having a 54% knockout percentage while Corzo only has three knockout wins and just one in the last four years.

It's hard to measure just how good Corzo will be because his list of previous opponents does not make for a good CV.

He is ranked at no. 9 with the WBO though, but if Corzo turns out to be a domestic-level fighter then Kelly could eat him up inside six rounds.

Corzo's last win in November was hardly impressive. He edged past countryman Jose Hugo Acevedo, who had been beaten four times previously, on points. It was a messy contest against a journeyman opponent in which Corzo did not show anything to worry a switched-on Kelly.

Kelly should prove to be too slick and too powerful for Corzo and a stoppage looks more than likely.

READ MORE: Boxing schedule for 2023: Every major fight night, dates, venues and results