Josh Kelly Determined to Outshine Former Teammate Jordan Pickford
Josh Kelly is poised to make history tonight as he attempts to secure a world championship title, aiming to achieve this milestone a full six months before his former Sunderland academy teammate, Jordan Pickford, potentially does the same with England at the upcoming World Cup.
From Academy Teammates to Sporting Rivals
The 31-year-old super-welterweight fighter will face the undefeated Bakhram Murtazaliev in a highly anticipated bout in Newcastle. A victory would not only crown Kelly as Sunderland's first-ever boxing world champion but would also allow him to enjoy this prestigious accomplishment well before Pickford and the England squad begin their World Cup campaign under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Kelly and Pickford shared formative years together in Sunderland's youth academy, before their sporting paths diverged dramatically. While Pickford rapidly ascended to become Everton's first-choice goalkeeper and England's number one, earning significant financial rewards early in his career, Kelly pursued a more challenging route in professional boxing, often training on modest means.
Creating a Legacy for Sunderland
In a recent interview, Kelly expressed his desire to establish a lasting legacy for his hometown. "I'm not sure if Pickford will ever come back and play for Sunderland, but you've got these stars who never really get linked back to the club," he remarked. "That's why I want to become the first world champion from the city and leave that legacy for people."
The boxer recalled a memorable moment that highlighted their different career trajectories early on. "I remember I was out running one time and Pickford drove past and beeped. He was in a big Range Rover and I was thinking, 'I've made no money out of this game yet, but he's driving that!'. I wondered if I'd chosen the wrong sport but it only made me more determined and I feel like I'm reaping the rewards now."
Bridging the Tyne-Wear Divide
Interestingly, Kelly has managed to become something of a unifying figure in the historically divided North East sporting landscape. Tonight's fight will mark his seventh appearance in a Newcastle ring, yet he remains a proud Sunderland supporter who dreams of eventually fighting at the Stadium of Light as a world champion.
"When it comes to football, of course I'm Sunderland and when we're playing Newcastle we hate them and they hate us," Kelly acknowledged. "That's a strong word to use, but we definitely dislike each other, especially now we're both in the Premier League. But when fight nights come about, I think people join together in the North East and come together for the fighters, which is a special thing because it rarely happens and it definitely wouldn't happen in football."
Looking ahead to potential future celebrations, Kelly humorously added about Pickford's World Cup ambitions: "But if he lifts that World Cup then I want to at least have a feel of it. I want to be on the field lifting it; I'll just run on and see if anyone catches me - they'll be catching a few left hooks along the way!"
Before any stadium dreams can be realised, however, Kelly must first navigate tonight's crucial championship bout against Murtazaliev, with the opportunity to make sporting history for Sunderland hanging in the balance.
