Opponent change for Josh Kelly

Josh Kelly will now face Colombian KO artist Placido Ramirez at the Beacon.

Sunderland fan Josh Kelly’s fight at the Beacon of Light on December 16 has had an opponent change.

Kelly was due to face the dangerous Roarke Knapp but injury has forced the South African out of their super welterweight showdown.

Placido Ramirez has stepped in to replace him, the big-punching 29-year-old who heads to Wearside next week knowing that he can catapult himself into world title contention by ruining Kelly’s homecoming party.

Kelly, ranked as the No1 contender on the planet, will be fighting in his home town for the first time as a professional and knows Ramirez represents a major threat to his big plans for 2024.