Argentina’s Gabriel Alberto Corzo came to Newcastle this evening putting his undefeated record on the line to challenge Josh Kelly.
Kelly is ranked at number 2 for Jermell Charlo’s WBO super welterweight world title, with Corzo in 9th place.
Yesterday’s weigh-in saw tempers flare with Corzo’s team and Kelly himself exchanging in a vast array of hand gestures towards each other.
Kelly came back to Newcastle at Vertu Motor Arena close to his native Sunderland. A third fight on the bounce in the city as promoters Wasserman look to re-establish the former Olympian as a probable future world champion.
The 1st round started with Kelly taking the center of the ring with his leading left hand low. The opening 3 minutes were all Kelly’s with Corzo on the bank foot for the entirety. Kelly was in a confident mood with his down and rejecting his stall at the bell.
Round 2 began much the same, there appeared to be a large gulf in class already. The Argentine would have one very minor snippet of success in the opening minute with a landing left hook, but Kelly ate it and went on goading his opponent. As the round came to an end Kelly landed an uppercut followed by a paid combination.
Even by the 3rd round it was abundantly clear which way this one was heading. Kelly was having his way with Corzo with the away in touching distance of the ropes through he entire round. Kelly was picking his moments, letting his hands go to a degree when the Argentine was pinned in the corner.
Corzo struggled to rise for the 4th. When he did the mood continued on the same track with Kelly’s jab having a little more venom. Kelly unleashed a gluttony of precise body and head shots that caused a roar from his local crowd, it was some surprise that Corzo was still standing. Kelly produced more showboating to close out the round, making Corzo miss big to make the trip to England even worse.
By the 5th round it was nothing more than gym practice for the man from The North East. Action slowed as Kelly appeared to be giving himself a small 3 minute rest. Corzo offered zero again in round 6, feeble missing jabs and tucking up with no plan was growing tired. Kelly landed a crowd pleasing right hand with a minute to go.
Kelly unleashed big body shots with Corzo on the ropes in the opening stages of the 7th. The Argentine dark arts of the sport came out to play in stages of the round. The crowd’s silence at this stage of the fight was a good example of how badly they wanted Kelly to call an end to the evening.
The 8th saw Corzo hanging on for the opening minute. When Kelly did get free it was much the same as before, the gulf in class between the two was scary. A point was deducted from Corzo inside a minute of round 9 for excessive use of the head. Not too much report other than the two falling to the fall during a tussle to close out the round.
Would round 10 give us the knockout we were all dreaming of? It would again see Corzo struggle to rise for the round. The pair exchanged in some sort of battle midway through, but again it was Kelly quicker to the mark.
The 11th and 12th would again see Kelly with arms down against an arms up Corzo. The Englishman waltzed his way to an easy points victory in a fight his opponent offered nothing at all. However, the win was commanding from Kelly whose confidence seems to be brimming.
The scorecards read; 117-110, 120-107 and 120-107.
Kelly improves his record to 14-1-1 (7 KOs) and keeps himself perched just outside world title action. Corzo flies home with a first career defeat, his record depletes to 18-1 (3 KOs).
