JOSH Kelly will be part of what has been hailed as the "best ever boxing card in Britain" with the Sunderland fighter set to take on Liam Smith in a fascinating clash at Wembley.

Kelly vs Smith has been confirmed as one of the bouts on what is a mouthwatering night of boxing on Saturday, September 21, headlined by Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois going at it for the IBF world heavyweight title.

It's the type of big name and encounter that Kelly has been pushing for and the 30-year-old will be looking to extend his five-fight unbeaten run since suffering the only defeat of his career to David Avanesyan in 2021.

Smith is looking to bounce back from a loss in his rematch against Chris Eubank Jr, with a world title shot potentially the reward for the victor at Wembley.

"Firstly, I want to His Excellency, Riyadh Season and Spencer Brown, a big thank-you," said Kelly.

"I'm a big 154 fighter so 160 will suit me.  I have nothing but respect for Liam, he has had a great career, he put Liverpool on the map - him and his brothers - and there is no bad blood between us, it's just business

"Stylistically it's one of the best match-ups on the card."

Kelly was last in action when he knocked out Placido Ramirez in Sunderland last December.

Although the headline all-British affair between Joshua and Dubois is obviously the stand-out fight, Kalle Sauerland, head of global boxing at Wasserman, thinks Kelly vs Smith has the makings of being the scrap of the night.

He said: "We've just got our breath back from the undisputed clash and 5 vs 5, and now this, a historic card, the best card ever in Britain.

"The main event is absolutely gigantic, but Kelly vs Smith, could steal the show. Yes, it is the right time to fight Liam, at the right weight. People who are around the scene know of Josh Kelly's potential and this is his time to shine, in front of 90,000 people at an iconic venue.

"But it's not about this being the right time to fight Liam, it's Josh's time. Adam Booth (Kelly's trainer) has done a fantastic job, this man is on fire. I believe this fight will steal the show."

Smith's defeat to Eubank was his fourth loss but he's been in with the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Jaime Munguia, Magomed Kurbanov, Jessie Vargas and Liam Williams in a stellar career.

He said: "This is a great fight on a huge card. It's a fight that not many people thought about but now it's announced, they can see it's an interesting fight.

"My focus is on Josh Kelly; I am massively confident of winning. Josh and Adam probably feel like they are getting me at right time. Fighters have made that mistake before, and they are doing the same thing.

"Josh has got to step up at some point and this might be his right time, but people have thought they are getting me at the right before - Anthony Fowler did so after I fought in Russia. I feel refreshed now, we have long enough to go, this has lit the fire in my belly.  Big respect for Josh and Adam, but business is business."