Josh Kelly will now face Colombian KO artist Placido Ramirez when he returns home to fight in Sunderland on December 16, live on DAZN. 

‘Pretty Boy’ was due to face the dangerous Roarke Knapp but injury has forced the South African out of their super welterweight showdown at the Beacon of Light.

In his place comes Ramirez, the big-punching 29-year-old who heads to Wearside next week knowing that he can catapult himself into world title contention by wrecking Kelly’s homecoming party. 

Kelly, ranked as the No1 contender on the planet, will be fighting in Sunderland for the first time as a professional and knows Ramirez represents a major threat to his big plans for 2024, which include a world title tilt and a fight at the Stadium of Light. 

Also added to the event is one of British boxing’s most exciting young fighters, Tom Welland. 

The 19-year-old announced himself to the paid ranks with a devastating fourth round stoppage win on his debut in Brighton last month. 

And Welland joins Newcastle’s Dan Toward, fresh from his stunning debut knockout triumph in Bolton on Friday night, as Wasserman Boxing showcases two of the country’s brightest young stars on DAZN. 

Hard-hitting Kazak Tursynbay Kulakhmet, a former World Amateur Championships medalist, is another top-level addition to the card, which is delivered in association with William Hill, and he joins local stars Ben Marksby, Harvey Lambert and Travis Waters as well as Romanian Andrei Dascalu

The IBF world middleweight title eliminator between Denis Radovan and Andrei Mikhailovich has been postponed, however. 

A muscle injury to Germany’s Radovan means he won’t be fit for the final eliminator which was due to act as the co-main event on December 16. 

Radovan is ranked No3 with IBF and knew victory in Sunderland would land him a shot at world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, but injury means the unbeaten 31-year-old must now wait to secure his chance. 

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing, said: “Out goes one dangerous opponent, and in comes another, for Josh Kelly’s huge homecoming show on December 16. 

“The threat posed to Josh’s plans for next year remains high with Ramirez, who comes to the UK next week, with 17 knockouts on his record, nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

“But Josh is the one of this country’s best fighters and the change of opponent has not changed his laser-focus on delivering a performance for his Sunderland fans to be proud of, but one that also sends out a statement of intent for next year. 

“Make no mistake, 2024 is gearing up to be Josh Kelly’s year and a big win on December 16, on DAZN, sets that up perfectly.” 

Denis Radovan and Andrei Mikhailovich collide in a final eliminator for the IBF world middleweight title, live on DAZN next month. 

The two highest ranked contenders in the 160lbs division clash on Saturday, December 16 in Sunderland, on the undercard of Josh Kelly’s major homecoming fight with Roarke Knapp. 

Delivered by Wasserman Boxing, Radovan and Mikhailovich put their unbeaten records on the line at the Beacon of Light, in the hope of earning the right to challenge fearsome champion Janibek Alimkhanuly. 

This world title eliminator acts as the co-main event to Kelly’s match-up against the highly ranked Knapp, with the Sunderland hero daring to risk his own title ambitions against the big-punching South African. 

Kelly will be boxing in his hometown for the first time as a professional and an expected sell-out crowd will provide noisy support for the 29-year-old, in the biggest fight of his career. 

North East talents Dan Toward, Ben Marksby and Travis Waters are also on the show, along with Harvey Lambert, plus many more fighters who will be announced in the coming days. 

But today’s announcement confirms the addition of a high-level international scrap between Germany’s Radovan and New Zealand-based Russian, Mikhailovich, live on DAZN. 

Denis Radovan said: “I don’t waste time yapping like him and his crew.  

“December 16th, my statement hits – not through the media, but right on his chin.” 

Andrei Mikhailovich said: “I am extremely excited for the opportunity to fight Denis.  

“To be fighting for a world title eliminator is a dream come true. 

“Only one man will be left in my way after this victory. 

“In the Wild West of Auckland, we are training hard to show everyone who I am. 

December 16th, I can’t wait.” 

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing, said: “Radovan vs Mikhailovich is a brilliant fight to add to this massive show in Sunderland. 

“Whether you’re sitting at ringside, or watching at home on DAZN, you will love this one, and it will get the adrenaline pumping for the main event. 

“Radovan and Mikhailovich are both unbeaten, both extremely confident and both laser-focused on winning a shot at the prestigious IBF world middleweight title.  

“Those ingredients together can mean only one thing – a great fight for the fans.” 

Josh Kelly fights in front of his home fans for the first time as a professional when he faces Roarke Knapp in Sunderland on December 16. 

Shown live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, Kelly headlines the Wasserman Boxing show against the power-punching South African at the Beacon of Light, with both men daring to put their world title ambitions on the line. 

Kelly has boxed all over the world but will walk to the ring in his hometown for the first time since 2012, when he was a rising amateur, on the path towards international titles and Olympic qualification. 

‘Pretty Boy’ is now one of the world’s leading contenders in the super welterweight division and his return home, which is set in the shadow of the famous Stadium of Light, promises to be an emotionally charged evening. 

But Johannesburg’s Knapp also has strong ties to the city and says, like Kelly, he is a lifelong supporter of Sunderland AFC, thanks to his father and grandparents who were born in the city. 

Josh Kelly said: “I’m so excited to be boxing back home, in Sunderland, for the first time as a professional. 

I can’t wait to put on a show and get dancing under those lights on December 16th, with the support of my city behind me.” 

Roarke Knapp said: “This is my time to step it up, I belong with the best in the world and so what better way to cement my legacy and introduce myself to the world, than in the UK. 

“Kelly is a sublime talent, we’ve both got brilliant styles and it’s going to be great to mix it up and see who the better man on the night is. 

“I spent my formative years in the UK, I still have family there and my Dad was born and bred in the Sunderland, so the blood that flows through these veins is also from Sunderland and I am a Sunderland fan through and through.”  

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing, said: “December 16 is the most important night of Josh Kelly’s career and so making sure he has the backing of his home fans, was vital. 

“I was stunned to learn that he’s not boxed in the great sporting city of Sunderland since he was an amateur, 11 years ago, so for everyone involved this is going to be a special homecoming. 

“Josh is one of British boxing’s most gifted fighters and now that he is entering his prime, he is ready for all-comers.  Knapp is the type of big-punching fighter that a lot of Josh’s rivals would have avoided like the plague, but not our man.  To prove he is the best in the division, he’s prepared to take on anyone.” 

“Another great fight to add to our best-in-class autumn schedule” said Alfie Sharman VP, DAZN.  

“Josh Kelly has all the tools to become a World Champion and on the 16th December, he takes a step closer to fulfilling that potential. Watch it live and exclusive, only on DAZN.” 

Kelly, 29, is enjoying one of British boxing’s most compelling comeback stories of recent times and knows he will stand on the brink of a world title shot if he can defuse the power of Knapp, who has brutally stopped 12 of his opponents. 

The former Great Britain amateur, who toyed with the previously unbeaten Gabriel Corzo live on DAZN in July, is ranked as the No1 contender by the WBO, and also holds lofty positions with the IBF and WBC. 

Knapp, whose record stands at 17-1-1, has built his reputation in South Africa but is now ready to travel overseas to pursue his own world title ambitions. 

And on December 16, at the Beacon of Light and live on DAZN, they meet to determine which one takes a giant stride towards the top. 

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