Birmingham’s Ryan Kelly was on the wrong side of a close split decision verdict for the Middleweight Commonwealth title at the resorts World arena Birmingham (39.11.24). Kelly (30) was taking on Matchrooms promotions Kieron Conway (28) on the undercard of the Edwards v Yafai show which was called Bloodline. The contest was for the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight title which was scheduled over twelve three-minute rounds with both fighters coming in elven stone five with Victor Loughlin reffing the fight.
Bright start by Kelly who moved well looking to get on the inside of Conways jabs, some nice sharp jabs by Conway with Kelly just nicking the round. Conway took the centre of the ring at the start of the second but Kelly soon pushed him back, fast sharp jabs by Conway but Kelly won this round with the eye-catching shots and great movement. Conway started shooting out some nice sharp jabs but Kelly was moving well and landing some nice combinations with his movement avoiding most of Conway shots with Kelly landing some nice one-twos to nick it. Conway started the fourth well letting his hands go and pushing Kelly back with some aggressive combinations, Kelly took the shots well firing back but Conway had this round with his pressure. Conway started to use his size in the fifth with Kelly moving well landing some sharp shots close round but he would have to give it to Conway. Both fighters picked their shots well in the sixth, Conway’s jab was landing well with Kelly firing back but Conway won this round.
Conway started to work well behind his jab opening up the seventh with some nice combinations but Kelly came back with nice combinations of his own, Conway just edged it for me. Great start to the eighth round by Conway with a cracking combination, Kelly fired back well landing nice combinations of his own winning the round. Conway started the ninth round strong landing some heavy combinations, Kelly continued to land some nice shots and was moving well but Conway nicked this round for me. Very close tenth round with both fighters landing good shots, but they could not split them even round. Conway really put it on Kelly at the start of the eleventh landing big shots. Kelly continued to battle and landed his own shots but the cleaner shots were coming from Conway. Conway looked to finish strong in the final round landing some heavy shots to the head and body. Kelly stayed composed and returned fire having his movement in the round but again the eye-catching shots came from Conway.
Judge Lee Evens scored it 116 to 112 Conway, Mark Lyson scored it 115 to 114 Kelly with Kevin Parker scoring it 115 to 113 Conway.
Conway wins split decision victory
I had it 116 to 113 Conway.
Dexter’s Thoughts
What a great fight and fair play to Ryan Kelly for rolling the dice and taking on Kieron Conway on a Matchroom promotions show in a very close contest. I had Conway just edging it but some of the rounds were that close that if the result had of gone to Kelly I font think anyone could complain. Kelly boxed really well and was razor sharp at the start of the fight winning the first three rounds on my card. Conway came back in the middle round but a few of the round could have gone either way, in my opinion it was the championship round that just edged it for Conway but Kelly has shown he is at this level and could easily content for any of these titles. This was a very close fight and even though Kelly didn’t get the result he and his team can take a lot from this contest and I am sure he will be contesting for big title again very soon.
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