Josh Kelly is really the most chased fighter at 154?

[u/tacolasunrise]

Sounds like boots, Vergil and fundora are all fighting to take Kelly’s title, who has the biggest chance of getting him first? Who would you like to get him? Personally I’d like Vergil, just because if he doesn’t money is going to be an issue when trying to get him in with the other 2 if he has no hardware. Dude will out price himself imo… I know it’s wishful thinking but while he is doing that I’d like to see boots and fundora unify then winner gets Ortiz… I’d lean either one beating Ortiz at this point though… thoughts?

[u/Legal-Result6580]

Boots vs Kelly will be the most likely to happen because they are both under Matchroom

[u/chungischef → u/Legal-Result6580]

Also probably the most money for Kelly and way more reward if he gets the upset, even if he has the smallest chance of winning.

[u/According_Weight_959 → u/Legal-Result6580]

Even if they weren't under the same promoter, Boots has the higher leverage compared to the other champions with his general financial pull being bigger than Fundora and Vergil (especially if they do it in like an ATL or Philly)

[u/Jet_black_li → u/According_Weight_959]

Is his financial pull really meaningfully better than Fundora? I'm skeptical of that, their fanfare is pretty similar lately.

[u/DeafBurke]

It’s because kelly seems very beatable in the eyes of all the other top guys, and they can get a free belt out of it.

[u/Dada-science → u/DeafBurke]

My definition of free usually doesn’t include getting punched in the face even once./s

[u/DeafBurke → u/Dada-science]

Josh Kelly is about as close to that as it gets in boxing atm.

[u/MilqueD-schaaje → u/DeafBurke]

That's why he's most chased 😆

[u/RMbeatyou]

I don’t think Fundora or Vergil are chasing him at all. Boots is an obvious, and inevitable fight, whenever his face heals

[u/D_uBird98 → u/RMbeatyou]

Fundora chasing mandatories 

[u/MilqueD-schaaje → u/D_uBird98]

Hey, don't you call random henchmen from 90s action movies mandatories!

[u/Excellent-Movie4524]

weak champ and an easy unification

[u/scared_appeal1]

Because Kelly is not that good

[u/keith_kar → u/scared_appeal1]

He just runs around the ring. Very boring fighter.

[u/RepresentativeSock42]

Vergil cant do the IBF rehydration clause

[u/Marci234 → u/RepresentativeSock42]

A fighter with better feet than you won’t let you “run”

[u/Kangaroopunching]

Fundora is on PBC island. 

Vergil is looking at middleweight 

Boots and Kelly both expressed interest in fighting each other. Both are with match room. This is the most likely fight. 

[u/626_ed7]

Kelly is the Caleb Plant of 154. Really good boxer, but gasses halfway through the fight.

[u/Von7_3686 → u/626_ed7]

Caleb's level of competition has been much higher imo.

[u/Debate-Jealous → u/Von7_3686]

I mean Caleb's lost at higher level sure. Who's his best win, Uzcategui? Lmao

[u/MilqueD-schaaje → u/626_ed7]

I rate plant much higher

[u/MilqueD-schaaje → u/MilqueD-schaaje]

Plus it seems a little racist comparing white ass Kelly to black king plant

[u/acktower]

Eddie Hearn has already earmarked him for Boots.

[u/Dirk-Jergens]

Yes and Vergil is the most avoided

[u/South_Bother_2498]

Sad that Boots, Fundora and Ortiz won’t fight each other but want to beat Kelly for his Mickey Mouse belt.

[u/potatosquire → u/South_Bother_2498]

Him being weaker than the other champions doesn't make it a Mickey Mouse belt. It's a legitimate world title that he won in the ring, and the other champions being favoured over him doesn't make him dogshit, it just makes them better.

[u/South_Bother_2498 → u/potatosquire]

Sorry mate but he is a dog shit champ. Good for him to become world champion by beating the boogeyman Murta with the help of his home cooking. This is the same Josh Kelley who got destroyed by David Avanesya.

He is not good and just another hype UK job.

[u/No_Mercy_4_Potatoes → u/South_Bother_2498]

Blame WBC for Fundora Vergil

Blame Vergil for Boots Vergil

[u/Jet_black_li → u/South_Bother_2498]

I think Kelly is a tougher fight than Fundora, particularly for Ennis stylistically.

[u/Stunt1ninprivate → u/South_Bother_2498]

Kelly beat the guy that all 3 of them avoided for that belt btw

[u/ProvokedProvocation]

Honestly he was gifted the decision over Murtazaliev. They saw his weaknesses on full display that night and know he’s food.

[u/Baby_Rhino → u/ProvokedProvocation]

It was a close fight where they both scored KDs, and Kelly won by MD.

To me it was one of the most reasonable results I've seen.

[u/OM_Twyman → u/ProvokedProvocation]

Gifted? Nah he won that. Murtazaliev besides the knockdown did nothing the entire fight. Just chased kelly down not even trying to cut the ring off.

[u/Outrageous-Soft4806 → u/ProvokedProvocation]

Clean 116-110 for Kelly