It might be a last-minute fix; nevertheless, the fight between Josh Kelly and Ishmael Davis promises to offer all the intrigue one might expect from a middleweight bout. The two fighters square off on the highly anticipated Anthony Joshua–Daniel Dubois showdown at the Wembley. With the year’s first fight, Kelly will mark his debut in the 160-pound weight class. Per the available reports, initially, the fight was scheduled with Liam Smith. However, the former champion had to pull out of the match on account of health issues. In walked Ishmael Davis from Leeds, Yorkshire.

Apart from their fight, the event features several thrilling matchups. Tyler Denny will defend his European middleweight title from Hamzah Sheeraz. Then IBF champion Anthony Cacace will have to fend off Josh Warrington‘s challenge to retain his super featherweight belt. There’s also a battle for the interim light heavyweight championship between Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson. Given the Kelly-Davis bout has been scheduled at such short notice, it might be interesting to see where the two boxers weigh against one another.

Josh Kelly vs. Ishmael Davis: The Stats Rundown

‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly was born on March 7, 1994, in Sunderland, England. His opponent, Ishmael Davis, was born a year later, on April 1, 1995. Probably, considering the fact that he is not a ranked prospect, details about Davis’ height and hand reach are not readily available. Otherwise, per available records, Josh Kelly records a height of 5 feet 10 inches, or 178 centimeters, and a reach that extends to 72 inches, or 183 centimeters. During the final weigh-ins, while Josh Kelly weighed around 159.1 pounds, Ishmael Davis tipped the scales at 159.3.

Kelly has thus far participated in 17 bouts in his seven-year-old career. He emerged victorious in 15 while losing one and another, ending in a draw. Eight of his victories came by knockout, giving him a knockout-to-win rate of 53%. On the other hand, ‘The Black Panther’ is an unbeaten warrior. Commencing his professional journey roughly a year before Kelly, Davis has 13 wins in his kitty. Nonetheless, like his current adversary, he too doesn’t appear to have any particular love for early stoppages. In his case, only 6 fights ended via knockouts, thus lending a knockout-to-win rate of 46%.

Josh Kelly vs. Ishmael Davis: Outcome Overview

Most available accounts suggest a strong preference for Josh Kelly. The Sunderland-born fighter reports -200 odds of winning against his Yorkshire rival, who enters the ring as a +200 underdog. However, considering the fact that it’s a one-of-a-kind break for him, ‘The Black Panther’ could barely afford to squander away the opportunity. Hence, fans could expect him to give his all in the fight.

Following his 2019 draw against Ray Robinson and the knockout loss to David Avanesyan two years later, Josh Kelly has worked hard to turn around his career. His five-match winning streak culminated in a third-round knockout win over Placido Ramirez on December 16 last year. However, the highlight of the journey was the 2022 fight against Troy Williamson. The win made him the British light middleweight champion.

At the opposite corner, fighting mostly out of his hometown Leeds, Ishmael Davis hasn’t had much of a chance at a title. But things could change in the near future. Reports suggest he has another fight lined up—against Uisma Lima on the Jack Catterall-Regis Prograis card for the IBF Intercontinental light middleweight title.

Some fans and experts might view Josh Kelly’s nine-month break with concern. Ishmael Davis, in contrast, has been quite the busier boxer. Neither of the fighters appear heavy in the knockout department. Hence, fans could expect the fight to go the whole distance. But here too some might notice a discrepancy, where Kelly enjoys reasonable experience in fighting a 12-round fight; for Davis, it is only the second such bout.

Josh Kelly doesn’t seem impressed by his new opponent’s skills. He remarked, “I believe he is going to bring exactly what Liam Smith was going to bring, but the big difference is that Liam is world-class… If you put our styles and boxing ability side by side, I believe you will see that Ishmael has been tossed in at the deep end.”

Fans might witness Kelly relying on his renowned speed and momentum, shifting across the ring. He would probably use combinations to check an unknown and unpredictable opponent. Ishmael Davis can switch stance to match the foe’s aggression. Reportedly, he can punch effectively from both the front and back foot.

Ishmael Davis feels that perhaps Kelly might be overlooking him as easy work. So he could use the situation to his advantage. He feels that he would stop the ‘Pretty Boy’ in his tracks before the fight ends. “You’re not cut like me. I’m telling you now. I’m fit. I ain’t here for no payday. I’m here because I believe I’m going to knock you out. You ain’t making it to the twelfth, let me tell you,” said ‘The Black Panther’, making his intentions clear.

Do you feel Ishmael Davis will inflict a third career loss on Josh Kelly?