THIS TIME last week Josh Kelly didn't know who'd be staring back at him in the Wembley ring tonight.

After Liam Smith's late withdrawal a mad scramble for an opponent ensued. Ordinarily in a situation like this, the fight would either fall-through or a journeyman dance partner would be found.

But this is no ordinary night in the capital.

On what is arguably the best card ever produced in the UK, headlined by British heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois going at it, Kelly needed an opponent with pedigree. And willing to accept was unbeaten Ishmael Davis.

Kelly and Davis both have a recent opponent in common in Darlington's Troy Williamson and are both looking up.

But for 30-year-old middleweight Kelly, from Sunderland, there's no room for error if he's to realise the potential and belatedly back-up the excitement that greeted his arrival in the pro ranks seven years ago.

These are the type of nights and bills that Kelly looked certain to be part of when he turned over. His ride since hasn't been as smooth as he'd have hoped - with a draw against Ray Robinson in 2019 and a defeat to David Avanesyan - no disgrace - two years later.

But his career and confidence has since been rebuilt and he'll walk out at the national stadium tonight looking to extend his winning streak to six fights.

And he insists he's unconcerned by the late change of plan and opponent.

"I believe he is going to bring exactly what Liam Smith was going to bring, but the big difference is that Liam is world class," said Kelly of Davis.

"If you put our styles and boxing ability, side by side, I believe you will see that Ishmael has been tossed in at the deep end.

"When it comes to crunch time, the big crowd, it's going to come on top of him, real quick.

"He hasn't got the power for me to respect him and for him to want to stand and trade. He fought Troy Williamson and didn't have him hurt once."

So often in boxing the most dangerous fighter is one that's underestimated - which Davis believes will work in his favour tonight.

"I heard Josh's interviews this week - he's overlooking me," he said.

"His best win is Troy Williamson, who I just beat as well, and every time he has stepped up, he has been beat.

"I am the most progressive British boxer, and he is overlooking me.  On Saturday, he is going to be in hell.

"He is a pretty boy, he is not cut like me."

Kelly's promoter Kalle Sauerland doesn't think the late disruption will knock his fighter off course.

"Josh says he’s a similar style of fighter,” he said.

“I’ll be totally honest, I still don’t know that much about Ishmael Davis, apart from the fact that he’s a hot prospect with a very good record

“Josh says he’s stylistically quite similar to Liam but, mentally, he’s coming in that ring with a totally different MO. He was supposed to be boxing in a couple of weeks’ time. He’ll be fit. He’ll know exactly why he dropped out of the other fight to take this fight. It wasn’t like he was sitting around waiting for a payday; he was fighting in a couple of weeks’ time. He will be very confident but it’s our time on Saturday night.”

In tonight's main event, Anthony Joshua insists his shock defeat by Andy Ruiz has forged the mindset that will enable him to become a three-time world heavyweight champion at Wembley on Saturday.

Joshua challenges for Daniel Dubois’ IBF belt knowing victory would complete a period of rebuilding after losses to Ruiz in 2019 and then twice to Oleksandr Usyk left his career on the brink.

Now riding a five-fight winning streak, the 34-year-old from Watford views the seismic upset in New York as a seminal moment.

“I became mentally strong when everyone went against me after Ruiz,” said Joshua;

“You build up a firm back, a firm chest, strong legs and you walk through it. You walk through walls and you keep proving people wrong.”