It was Media Workout day as fight night for the British Super Welterweight title draws nearer. Friday will see ‘Judgement Night’ decide who reigns king of the North East between Sunderland’s Josh Kelly (12-1-1) and current British champion Troy Williamson (19-0-1) at the Utilita Arena, live on Channel 5, Friday December 2.

Both men are currently belt holders, both men are coming into this off the back of wins; ultimately, both men can claim the biggest win of their careers in their own back yard. Kelly holds the WBO International Super Welterweight title, but it will be the Darlington man’s historic Lonsdale belt on the line which champion Williamson will be eager to keep in his possession. It’s the final time the media will get the opportunity to see both of these North East stars in the ring, with an electric night promised in Newcastle. 

Josh Kelly:

“It’s on. Fight week has started and I’m fired up and ready to go. A little bit of a light session today with non-contact stuff; I’ll save all the contact punching for Friday when I get that British belt.”

“I know what to expect from Troy, he’s a good fighter but he doesn’t present any new problems for me. I’ll be the best opponent he has come up against and he’ll be second guessing what things are going to be like.”

“For me, there have been plenty of Troy Williamsons that I have beaten before, and that will be the exact same outcome for this fight. And the new…”

Troy Williamson:

“His pedigree counts for nothing, you have to remember he was meant to next best thing since sliced bread. People always mention being in the Olympics but it’s irrelevant, he’s been found out before and I’ll expose him on fight night.”

“He’s always been a technical fighter but the questions still hang over him – can he swim when the water starts getting rough? I can turn this into a fight he won’t like, and when things get rough I don’t think he’ll know how to respond.”

“One of us is going to come out of this as the Super Welterweight hope for North East boxing. I can tell you now, it’ll be me.”

It was a media workout littered with local talent, as well as the main event of the evening in Kelly and Williamson. The media will have to wait one more day to address the likes of Lyndon Arthur in his clash with Joel McIntyre, as well as a rematch between the big heavyweights in Hosea Stewart vs. Franklin Ignatius II!

Lydon Arthur (20-1, 14 KOs) will be heading to the North East for the press conference tomorrow in Newcastle as he is back in the ring to face Joel McIntyre (20-4, 5 KOs) at Light Heavyweight, live on Channel 5.

‘King Arthur’ looks to build off his sixth-round dominant stoppage performance against Walter Gabriel Sequeira in Bolton back in September. He now steps up in opposition as he goes in hot pursuit of title challenge opportunities. With momentum behind the Manchester man, an electric Newcastle crowd will be in for a treat as they watch a hungry fighter on a mission.

The former Commonwealth and WBO Inter-Continental light-heavyweight champion, Arthur will have to prove he is title worthy by coming through the tough ‘El Toro’ in the form of McIntyre.  The Portsmouth fighter will be looking to spoil Arthur’s ascendency and will be looking to lean on the additional rounds in his career to work out a masterplan to dethrone ‘King Arthur’.

The mouth-watering heavyweight battle betweenHosea Stewart (2-0-1) and Franklin Ignatius (4-0-1, 1 KO) could easily contend for ‘Fight of the Night’ as both men will look to claim the first win of this saga, after the first fight ended in a draw last time out in Newcastle.

With both men yet to suffer a defeat, and a closely fought draw on their last visit to Newcastle, the ‘0’ must surely go this time as two young fighters look to put their name in lights on a huge Channel 5 card.  

Stewart continues to go in search of his first knockout win of his fledgling professional boxing career as the 24-year-old will be looking to steal the limelight at “Judgement Night” in Newcastle. Ignatius will be coming to grab headlines of his own and add another knockout to his undefeated record.

PLEASE FIND ALL IMAGES BELOW:

 JUDGEMENT NIGHT OPEN WORKOUT IMAGES
CREDIT: WASSERMAN BOXING

Williamson vs. Kelly for the British Super Welterweight Championship will top a huge night of boxing in the North-East on Friday December 2 at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle. Former Commonwealth and WBO Inter-Continental Light-Heavyweight champion ‘King’ Lydon Arthur (20-1, 14 KOs) fights against ‘El toro’ Joel McIntyre (20-4, 5 KOs) in this North East extravaganza. The big men settle the score in Hosea Stewart vs. Franklin Ignatius II, with ‘Magic’ Matty Harris looks to continue his destructive stoppage win streak. Former world champion Katharina Thanderz (14-1, 2 KOs), local rising star Ben Marksby (5-0) and Newcastle’s Jordan Barker-Porter (5-1, 1 KO) all feature on this massive evening of action. Super Welterweight prospect Bobby Dalton (2-0), a debut for Super Welterweight Travis Walker, Jarrow’s Ewan Mckenzie (5-0, 3 KOs) and Super Middleweight Joe Laws (12-2, 5 KOs) are also added to make up a stacked card. Co-promoted by Wasserman Boxing and Probellum in association with William Hill and Infinitum Entertainment, all the action will be shown live and free on Channel 5.

LONDON, JULY 15 – Troy Williamson has told Josh Kelly to agree to a mouth-watering British title showdown instead of chasing “easy” fights like his rivals have. The British Boxing Board of Control have ordered Williamson to defend his super welterweight crown against Kelly, after James Metcalf pulled out of a fight with the champion. Bids to promote the fight must be submitted by August 10. Williamson, from Darlington, and Sunderland’s Kelly could now clash in a “huge” fight for the North East of England and ‘Trojan’ – one of British’s boxing most exciting fighters – hopes his rival doesn’t try and avoid him. “It’s a great fight, especially for the North East,” Williamson told Probellum.com.   “I’ve known Josh since our amateur days and we are friends outside of the ring, but that will have to be put to one side if we fight. “He’s got all the talent in the world and a big following, so this would be a huge occasion.  I posted on social media after hearing the news and everybody is already getting excited for this fight. “I just hope Josh takes the fight and isn’t like all the others who just want easy fights.” But Williamson has already warned Kelly about what lies in store for him if the fight happens. “I’m a proven 12 round fighter who is strong at the weight,” said the British champ. “And as everyone has seen, I get stronger as the fight goes on.  I am a lot stronger and fitter than Josh and that will tell over the distance.” On Liverpool’s Metcalf pulling out a fight with Williamson, the Probellum man said: “I’m disappointed JJ Metcalf withdrew from our fight.  “He’s said that fighting me for the British title is a backwards step but I don’t blame Eddie Hearn [his promoter] for not wanting to put him in with me, I’ve already stopped his other super welterweight fighter, Ted Cheeseman, and I would have done the same to Metcalf.” THOMAS PATRICK WARD AND WBA TITLE ‘REQUEST’ PAT MCCORMACK TO FIGHT ON NEWCASTLE SHOW To keep up to date with the latest news on Williamson’s potential fight with Kelly, sign up to our newsletter?or follow Probellum on?Instagram,?Twitter?and?Facebook.????  You can also follow our official news, results, and information account, Probellum News, on Twitter.??  About Probellum??? Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promoter, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport. Following the success of the opening two shows in December 2021, Probellum held back-to-back world championship nights in Dubai, as well as a packed card in Newcastle. The world title action then headed to Liverpool last month where Paul Butler won the WBO bantamweight crown. Probellum’s elite stable of fighters also includes Nonito Donaire, Regis Prograis, Estelle Mossely, Sunny Edwards, Eimantas Stanionis, Donnie Nietes and Dina Thorslund. But the company has also recruited the next generation of stars with Peter McGrail, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack, Shabaz Masoud and Spencer Wilcox among the young talents under the Probellum umbrella. Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including DiBella Entertainment (US), Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).????  ?

TROY WILLIAMSON insists he will see off Kieran Smith in their British Super-Welterweight title final eliminator on Friday April 30, live on BT Sport.

The Darlington man will be looking at the big time if he wins and guaranteed a shot at British champion Ted Cheeseman.

Williamson (15-0-1, 11 KOs) who has recovered from recent laser eye surgery said: “Me and Cheeseman would be a war.

“We have got a similar sort of style. We can box and come forward. I think at some stage it would catch fire and be explosive.

“I’m not sure if he wants to stick around and move on. If he does, we will meet and if not I will still get my shot once I come through Kieran.

“If I get the opportunity this year I will become British champion. I don’t run my mouth because I deserve the opportunity.”

Williamson admits that Smith (16-0, 7 KOs) will be his toughest opponent to date as a professional.

The Scottish southpaw is on a revenge mission having narrowly lost against Williamson when there were amateurs at the 2015 Tri-Nations tournament.

“We are the two underestimated guys in the division and nobody wants to fight us so we’re putting it on the line fighting each other,” said Williamson

“One million per-cent this is the biggest fight for me so far as a professional.

“I’m not looking at my Tri-Nations win. It’s now smaller gloves, longer rounds and we’ve both matured as fighters. It’s still 1-0 though and that will be in the back of his head.

“I’m more explosive, I hit harder, I believe I am going to be fitter on the night. I will be mentally and physically ready just like I always am.

“As a professional I have boxed higher calibre boxers. In his last fight he boxed somebody who was unbeaten but it was a padded record and they didn’t turn up to win.

“What makes me different is that I am hungry to succeed. I am a  complete athlete. I live and breath boxing. It will show on April 30.

“Fans can expect a great fight. It will catch fire at some point and be explosive. I will win.”

Another potential opponent for Troy is a mouth-watering meeting with young unbeaten hopeful Hamzah Sheeraz, a Frank Warren stablemate.

Hall of Fame promoter Warren has been desperate to make the fight, but it has fallen through twice inside the last few months.

Williamson promised Warren: “It will happen this year or early next year.”

‘Trojan’ who has been travelling around the country with trainer Craig Carney to get top class sparring added: ”I was due to fight Hamzah last November, but I injured my eye in sparring.

“I went back to training too early after the laser eye surgery. I took a thumb in the eye and it closed up so I couldn’t train.

“It got rescheduled for last month. Then he got injured so it’s not happening.

“I think we’re Frank Warren’s best two Super-Welterweights so that fight needs to happen.

“Hamzah is a good fighter. If we boxed now I think it is a bit too early for him and I’d show a bit of man strength.

“My full focus is Kieran and we will see where we go after whether it is Cheeseman or Hamzah next.”

In the main event on the behind closed doors London card brilliant South African Moruti Mthalane (39-2, 26 KOs) defends his IBF World Flyweight championship against Croydon’s Sunny Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs), a former GB amateur team-mate of Williamson.

In a ten rounder Belfast’s Michael Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) faces dangerous Romanian Ionut Balata (14-2, 3 KOs)

Sunny’s older brother, Charlie Edwards (16-1, 6 KOs) the former WBC World Flyweight champion has his second fight as a Bantamweight on the undercard.

FOR TROY’S FULL INTERVIEW WITH DEV SAHNI ON THE LOWDOWN CLICK HERE

Carl Frampton tuned up for a Fall title shot with a 7th round stoppage over Darren Traynor in a lightweight bout at York Hall in London, England,

In round six, Frampton dropped Traynor with a hard left to the body. In round seven, He landed another left to the body, and Traynor waved No-Mas and the fight was over.

Frampton, 134.4 lbs of Belfast, Ireland will now fight Jamel Herring (should Herring be successful on September 5th against Jonathan Oquend) with a record of 28-2 with 16 knockouts. Traynor, 134 1/4 lbs of Scotland is 16-4.

Said Frampton, “I’m happy to get the win, obviously. Far from my best, but I suppose people talk about rounds. I don’t think it’s going to harm me doing the rounds. If I had the chance to take him out in the first round, I would’ve done that.

“It was a better opponent for Herring than the original opponent because I think he was about my height, maybe even a little bit shorter. Darren isn’t a southpaw, but the dimensions are similar. I know I need to be a lot better for Herring. It’s good to get the rounds done. My hands are fine. No issues there. Onward and upward.”

Conlan stops Takoucht in 10th

Michael Conlan remained undefeated by stopping former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht in the 10th and final round of their featherweight bout.

In round four, Conlan was deducted a point for a low blow. In round five, he was deducted another point for a low blow.

In round 10, Conlan landed a hard combination that hurt Takoucht. Conlan drove him to the ropes and the fight was stopped.

Conlan, 126.25 lbs of Belfast is 14-0 with eight knockouts. Takoucht, 126.6 lbs of France is 35-5.

Sharp Decisions Ofori

Archie Sharp barley remained undefeated by winning a decision over Jeff Ofori in a lightweight bout.

Ofori out-landed Sharp 124-112.

Sharp, 133 lbs of Wailing win by a 96-95 score and is now 19-0. Ofori, 131.1 lbs of London is 10-3-1.

EARLY RESULTS FROM LONDON

Troy Williamson won a hard-fought 10-round unanimous decision over Harry Scarf in a junior middleweight bout.

Williams, 152.8 lbs won by scores of 97-94, 96-94 and 96-95 and is now 15-0-1. Scarf, 153.3 lbs is 8-2.

Paddy Donovan destroyed an overmatched Des Newton in the 1st round of their scheduled six-round welterweight bout

Donovan dropped Newton in the first 30 seconds with a left hand. Donovan finished thing with two massive body shots, with the latter being a left right to the gut that put Newton down and in a lot of pain and the fight was stopped.

Donovan, 146.5 lbs is 4-0 with three knockouts. Newton, 149.3 lbs is 8-16.

WATCHING THE IBF International super welterweight belt change hands over the weekend made Troy Williamson even hungrier for success and the Trojan says he would be happy to dine out on both the winner and loser.

Sam Eggington and Ted Cheeseman fought out a close run fight this past Saturday, with Cheeseman getting the verdict from the judges and parting the Birmingham man from his title.

The fight received a good few plaudits from viewers but, up in Darlington, the IBF European champion was not particularly impressed with what he witnessed.

The 28-year-old former Team GB star believes he would devour both men for breakfast and midday snack.

“Watching the Eggington-Cheeseman fight made me realise I am a level above both,” said Williamson, who is set to defend his title live on BT Sport on August 15. “I would even fight them on the same day.”

“I would have the egg for breakfast and the cheese for lunch.”

Williamson suspects he is becoming an avoided man in the division but will not be deterred in his quest to conquer at 154lbs.

“There’s a reason why none of these super welterweights want to fight me. But I won’t be stopped. I will become world champion.”

Also featuring live on BT Sport on August 15 is two-weight world champion Carl Frampton, who takes on Vahram Vardanyan in a step towards a proposed WBO world title shot at super featherweight against the champion Jamel Herring. Michael Conlan takes on former world featherweight title challenger Sofiane Takoucht, while top prospects Dennis McCann (bantam) and Paddy Donovan (welter) have their seventh and fourth professional fight respectively.