Davis steps in to face Kelly on Saturday

Ishmael Davis beat Troy WIlliamson by unanimous decision in March

Josh Kelly has a new opponent for this coming Saturday after Liam Smith’s exit, as Turki Alalshikh announced that undefeated super welterweight Ishmael Davis has answered the call.

Davis (13-0, 6 KO) was preparing for a date with Uisma Lima on Matchroom’s October 26th Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis show, his first bout since March’s career-best victory over Troy Williamson. Kelly (15-1-1, 8 KO) outclasses Williamson as significantly as Williamson outclassed “Black Panther’s” prior opponents, but Lima was coming off an upset finish of unbeaten Haro Matevosyan, so it’s not like Davis was prepping for a gimme.

Calling up a competent, undefeated local fighter in more or less the same weight class on a week’s notice is about as much as one could ask for, so good on the organizers for pulling it off.

Manchester’s main event pits Daniel Dubois against Anthony Joshua, while Anthony Cacace and Joshua Buatsi defend their respective titles against Josh Warrington and Willy Hutchinson.