JOSH KELLY set up the biggest year of his career by producing a "showreel knockout" in front of his Sunderland fans last night.

The 29-year-old Wearsider stopped Placido Ramirez in the third round at a sold-out Beacon of Light after landing a vicious uppercut that left his Colombian opponent unable to beat the referee's count.

Kelly's stunning victory means he is next in line to fight for the IBO World Super-Welterweight title, but the former Olympian also remains the number one contender with the WBO and highly ranked by the IBF.


'Pretty Boy' has made no secret of his desire to land big domestic dust-ups with rivals such as Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Junior, and following one of the KOs of the year, he declared that he is ready for anyone.

"It was meant to be," said Kelly. "The city turned out and the place was red and white tonight. Everything went to plan. It all went smoothly.

"I want those big domestic fights or a World title fight.  You all know the names I want - Eubank and Benn - I am here and after that sort of performance, let's get them down here."

Kalle Sauerland, global head of boxing at promotion company Wasserman, said: "Josh took Ramirez two inches off the floor with that punch.

"He set him up with the jab but that uppercut was a showreel knockout.  He is number one in the world, so there are big fights coming in 2024.

"Josh is the easiest guy to promote, he doesn't care who he fights, he just wants me to rack them up."

Earlier in the Wasserman Boxing event, delivered in association with William Hill, Newcastle's Dan Toward moved to 2-0 as a professional after dominating Nikolas Dzurnak, dropping him on the way to a 60-53 points win.

And another of British boxing's biggest prospects, Tom Welland, won in punishing fashion against Yuri Zanoli, flooring his rival in the opening round and then dominating thereafter as he claimed a 60-53 points victory.