Conor Benn: “He’ll come back, but he has to sit down and question what level he wants.” The Sunderland fighter was stopped by David Avanesyan in the sixth round of their European welterweight title fight
Last Updated: 21/02/21 1:11 am
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Josh Kelly must question his desire after the loss of David Avanesyan, says Conor Benn
Josh Kelly must question his desire after the loss of David Avanesyan, says Conor Benn
Conor Benn says Josh Kelly must question his desire after he suddenly went on to lose a stoppage in the sixth round to David Avanesyan in their European title fight.
Sunderland welterweight suffered the first loss in his professional career when Avanesyan knocked down Kelly twice to force trainer Adam Booth to throw in the towel at the SSE Arena at Wembley.
Benn was lined up as an opponent for Kelly in the future, but was unsure if his British rival would remain in the same division after this loss.
1:57 Avanesyan knocked down Josh Kelly twice to stop the sixth round
“Kelly looked sharp, he was right,” said Benn, who was part of the Sky Sports team.
“He put down some power pictures early on. I thought Avanesyan might be in trouble, but Avanesyan got to it.
“Kelly’s got all the skill. He’s very talented. Why does he keep blowing up after four or five rounds?
“Maybe it’s a weight issue, maybe it should move weight up, because I like Kelly, I do. I’m sculpting for it, to be honest, it’s I really do. “
Benn admitted Kelly could not withstand the Avanesyan attack, although he still supported the 26-year-old to revive his career.
“Everyone knows Kelly is good for four, five, six, but when he gets past that and gets on his back, he folds,” Benn said.
“That’s what happened tonight. Avanesyan kept the pressure on.
“He’ll come back. He has to sit down and question what he wants.”
3:17 Eddie Hearn says Avanesyan was a deserving winner
Promoter Eddie Hearn insisted Kelly could still reach the top, but acknowledged Avanesyan’s relentless attack,
“Sometimes you come across a boy who won’t be rejected, that’s too strong,” Hearn said. “It simply came to our notice then. That was David Avanesyan tonight.
“Josh Kelly had an amazing camp. Josh Kelly was in the shape of his life. He couldn’t have been better in that ring tonight, but this guy, he wouldn’t have been denied. it’s too hard.
“What we saw tonight was the weight of an elite welter. The weight of a welter at a global level against a good view that I believe could be a world-class superstar. But he just knew it, he was just fascinated, it was just clothes.
“As good as it was at first, you could see it unresolved.
“I thought Adam Booth did a good job throwing in the towel, because that was the end.”
4:12 Avanesyan says his sacrifices were worth it after he defeated Kelly
The Russians had unsuccessfully challenged for a WBA belt in the past, but Hearn suggested that the Avanesyan should win another fight against one of the biggest names at 147lbs.
“I believe he should get a global title picture,” Hearn said. “Why don’t you see him up there fighting like Shawn Porter.
“Terence Crawford looks for an all-time opponent. Errol Spence, Danny Garcia. All those people.”