Twenty-nine-year-old Ryan Kelly Shined at the Holiday Inn Birmingham when he took on the very talented River Wilson-Bent in a Commonwealth Silver Middleweight title fight which was scheduled for ten three-minute rounds. In a battling hard-fought contest Kelly came out as the victor winning a unanimous decision that has the potential to be a Bbcolumn fight of the year. The sold-out show was put on by Black Country Boxing Promotions and was classed as a 50/50 contest for this vacant title. Kelly's record stood at seventeen wins with eight coming via stoppage out of Twenty-one contests. Wilson-Bent’s (29) from Coventry record stood at fifteen wins six by stoppage with one draw and three defeats. Kelly weighed in eleven stone five with Wilson-Bent coming in eleven stone six with Reece Carter refereeing.
Back and forth first round with Wilson-Bent using his jab well as Kelly looked to slip and get in on the inside and landed some nice body shots, Wilson-Bent just edged the round. The second was another round where both fighters landed good shots, Wilson-Bent used his jab well with some nice one-twos as Kelly banged in some nice body shots. Wilson-Bent was warned for hitting Kelly on the back of the head, Kelly then finished the round strong to nick the round. Kelly sustained a cut on the side of his left eye. Kelly started the third round strong and was slipping well landing nice body shots, Wilson-Bent came back strong at the end of the round but Kelly got the round.
Kelly again started the fourth round strong and continued his good work on the inside moving well making Wilson-Bent miss, Wilson-Bent landed some good shots but it was Kelly’s round. Wilson-Bent was warned again in the fifth for hitting on the back of the head by the ref, Wilson-Bent used his jab well but Kelly was slipping well and banging big body shots and then landing big hooks to Wilson-Bent's head. Wilson-Bent hot back on his jab and used it well to control the first minute of the round, Kelly was slipping well and landed some nice combinations but Wilson-Bent got this round.
Great seventh round with Wilson-Bent starting well and landing some big shots rocking Kelly who did look like he was gone, Kelly stood strong and saw out the storm and came back with shots of his own knocking Wilson-Bent gum shield out, Wilson-Bent sustained a cut above his right eye and Kelly finished the round strong. Both fighters exchanged shots at the start of the eighth round with Kelly landing a flurry of hooks but dropping Wilson-Bent with a nice right hook, Wilson-Bent got up but earned more time to recover by spitting his gum shield out, and Kelly poured on the pressure with Wilson-Bent holding on in there and seeing the round out. Wilson-Bent started the ninth round well and looked like he had recovered from the eighth, Kelly was now looking like he wanted to land the one big shot to end it, but Wilson-Bent moved well and used his jab well to get a share of the round. Both fighters kept their hands go as both of them looked to leave it all in the ring, Wilson-Bent worked hard and got some good shots off but Kelly took the round with some stylish counters.
Judge Chris Dean Scored it 96 to 93 Kelly, Judge Terry O’Connor scored it 98 to 92 Kelly and Kevin Parker scored it 97 to 93 Kelly. I had it 98 to 93 Kelly.
Ryan Kelly wins a Unanimous Points Decision and the New Commonwealth Silver Middleweight Champion.
Dexter’s Thoughts
The first thing I have to say is what a fight and what a night of boxing, Black Country Boxing Promotions put on a great night of boxing with the main event being one of the fights of the year. This was classed as a 50/50 contest and if I’m honest I could not split them before the fight started. The fight itself was a fantastic display of styles-making fights as Wilson-Bent used his jab and Kelly looked to slip and get in on the inside. Kelly won the contest convincingly on all cards but the fight itself was a lot closer than the cards said. I am not saying the scores were wrong I had it the same but a lot of the rounds were back and forth but Kelly always seemed to do enough to nick the close rounds. Both fighters left everything in the ring, and both were rocked in the contest but when Wilson-Bent touched down in the eighth I did think it was all over then. Wilson-Bent showed a lot of heart after that to stay in the contest but the same can be said about Kelly who was rocked in the seventh and came back strong both fighters can be proud of their performance. Kelly can take great pride in his performance. Now he has the Silver version of the Commonwealth Middleweight title he can look at moving on and contesting for English, Commonwealth, British, or even European titles. On this display, I can see him claiming one or two of them before he retires. Massive Congratulations to Ryan Kelly for a great display and a great victory, the Birmingham Boxing Column looks forward to reporting on Kelly's next fight very soon.
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