“Boots is chomping at the bit to get back in the ring, and I’m told there are advanced negotiations for Jaron Ennis to face Josh Kelly in a unification fight sometime in November or December,” Mannix said during DAZN’s Sources Say. “Josh Kelly, coming off a win this past month, had some injury issues after that fight. He had a nose injury, but Matchroom, Boots’ team, believes that injury will be healed. I’m told they are targeting that fight on the East Coast before the end of this year.”
If Kelly were a stronger champion, he might be able to make several defenses and earn money from the IBF title before pursuing a unification. His July 25 showing against Caoimhin Agyarko demonstrated why waiting would carry considerable risk.
Heavy punishment left Kelly with a badly damaged nose as he squeezed out a narrow 12-round unanimous decision in Jeddah. Agyarko is ranked No. 15 by the IBF, yet Kelly struggled to keep him under control.
Higher in the IBF rankings are Brandon Adams, former champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, Nikita Tszyu, Israil Madrimov, Ben Mahoney, Xander Zayas, Milan Prat, Giovani Santillan, Yan Marcos, Pavel Sosulin, Ibrahima Diallo, and Bilal Fawaz. Kelly would have a difficult time holding the belt for long against that group.
His title-winning victory over Murtazaliev in Newcastle was also viewed by many as a hometown gift. Kelly stayed mobile rather than engage for long. Near the end of rounds, he used quick shoeshine combinations to impress the judges. Murtazaliev landed the heavier punches and dropped Kelly in the ninth, yet lost on two cards.
Ennis presents a far more severe test. The WBA and WBO champion has more speed, power, combination punching, and offensive variety. The difference is wide enough that placing the fight in Newcastle probably would not change the outcome.
That nose injury may be the greatest immediate concern. If it breaks down during sparring, the unification may have to be postponed. Assuming Kelly gets through camp, taking the Ennis fight now makes more financial sense than continuing with lower-paying title defenses.
