Boxing Mar 05, 2026

Josh Kelly: Conor Benn 'not on my level' but super-welterweight world championship fight can happen at Stadium of Light

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Josh Kelly: Conor Benn 'not on my level' but super-welterweight world championship fight can happen at Stadium of Light

Josh Kelly does not consider Conor Benn a worthy challenger for his newly won world championship, but would accept that fight at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

Kelly dethroned Bakhram Murtazaliev to win the IBF super-welterweight title and become the first boxing world champion from Sunderland.

He now wants to bring a major fight to the Stadium of Light in his hometown.

"Coming to fight there at the Stadium of Light would be surreal. The support I got when I walked on the pitch was crazy," Kelly told Your Site.

"They're not fans, they're like friends and family. I'm overwhelmed."

Conor Benn would be the most high-profile British opponent operating around Kelly's weight division.

"It can [happen]. I don't think it will because I think he's chasing them fantasy fights, win-win fights where he boxes Shakur [Stevenson] or someone where he's not supposed to win and if he loses, his value doesn't drop that much, commercially anyway," Kelly said.

"But if he wants world title fights, I think my commercial value's up there with the best of them. He can fight me and get paid a lot of money for it.

"The Stadium of Light would be bouncing."

Benn, however, is not Kelly's target. "Champions don't chase challengers, they chase champions," he said. "I'm not chasing him whatsoever.

"Conor Benn's improved a lot since he started but he's not on my level.

"He's boxed Eubank twice and that's the highest echelon of his career, and Eubank was a shell of a man."

Kelly continued: "He knows I hit hard enough to hurt him. He knows I've got the boxing ability and IQ to give him a real boxing lesson."

His goal is to become a unified world champion with Xander Zayas, who now holds the WBO and WBA titles at 154lbs, his preferred opponent.

"I want to try and get some more titles, so maybe Zayas for a unification. I'd love that. Three belts, unreal," Kelly said.

"I feel like we can bring a big night to Sunderland but if he wants to stay comfy and wants to have it in America and stay in his comfort zone, I'm not fussed about travelling.

"I'd love nothing more than to have it in the Stadium of Light. That would just be a dream come true.

"We can't have everything we want which way we want. I've got the world title, I've got the backing from the people in the city of Sunderland, so hopefully I can get it back there.

"But if not, we've just got to do what we've got to do to get another win."

Watch the Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper bill live on Your Site on Sunday April 5

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Terri Harper on facing hate: 'Just be your authentic self. Don’t change who you are'

Terri Harper on facing hate: 'Just be your authentic self. Don’t change who you are'

Professional boxing can be a hostile environment for members of the LGBTQ+ community.But Terri Harper, a multi-weight world champion, looks to help wh...

Fabio Wardley to defend WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on May 9

Fabio Wardley to defend WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on May 9

Fabio Wardley will face Daniel Dubois in an all-British world heavyweight title fight on Saturday May 9.WBO champion Wardley makes the first defence o...

Terri Harper accuses Caroline Dubois of 'disrespect' as she promises her 'sweetest victory' before tense face-off

Terri Harper accuses Caroline Dubois of 'disrespect' as she promises her 'sweetest victory' before tense face-off

Caroline Dubois continued to wage psychological war with rival Terri Harper at the launch press conference ahead of their April 5 world title unificat...

Prince 'Charles' Martin believes he can become a world heavyweight champion again ahead of Efe Ajagba fight

Prince 'Charles' Martin believes he can become a world heavyweight champion again ahead of Efe Ajagba fight

'Prince' Charles Martin believes he has 'unfinished business' in boxing.The former IBF world heavyweight champion returns against Efe Ajagba in the Zu...

Tyson Fury to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 in heavyweight comeback bout

Tyson Fury to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 in heavyweight comeback bout

Tyson Fury’s comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he returns to boxing on April 11, according...

Tyson Fury wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk again, he wants to be the best, says promoter Frank Warren ahead of comeback

Tyson Fury wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk again, he wants to be the best, says promoter Frank Warren ahead of comeback

Tyson Fury will target his old rival Oleksandr Usyk after his comeback fight, says promoter Frank Warren.Fury will return to boxing to take on Arslanb...