Marksby vs Kelly Predictions: Two warriors risking their undefeated records for glory

Unbeaten prospect Ben Marksby aims for lucky 13 this Friday, September 5 as he takes on Irish welterweight champion Senan Kelly. 12-0 Marksby makes his Dublin debut at the 3Arena, with a bumper audience expected on Channel 5. The card is headlined by Michael Conlan vs Jack Bateson, while former world champion Charlie Edwards boxes Salvador Juarez in the chief support.

Here are my Marksby vs Kelly predictions ahead of this super lightweight contest.

Marksby vs Kelly Odds

Marksby is 1/5 to get the job done in this one. Kelly is priced at 4/1 while the draw is on the table at 16/1.

Marksby vs Kelly Fight Preview

Marksby has done almost all the right things in his 12-fight professional journey. The climb from journeyman foes to more competitive fare has been measured. After 10 decision victories, Marksby has scored a pair of knockouts in his last two fights. Friday represents another considered jump in class for the 25-year-old.

Kelly is taking a risk with this one. While he did dabble long enough with super lightweight to win the Irish title at the weight, the current national ruler at welterweight seems more at home in the 147-pound division. But a big televised opportunity against an opponent on the rise has proven too enticing to pass up.

Like Marksby, Kelly only has two knockouts on his ledger. The Irishman has had two less fights, with 10 outings since turning over in 2019. The pandemic saw a three-year activity gap between that fateful year of 2020 and 2023. But the Leixlip lad has been active since.

Marksby has also been fighting at a decent clips. His last outing only occurred in June. On that occasion, the Newcastle Arena saw the County Durham lad stop Nicolas Ariel Blanco in three rounds. 

Kelly’s most-recent bout was a split decision win over Declan Geraghty in the second defence of his Irish welterweight crown. The veteran challenger has mixed in top company, fighting the likes of Jono Carroll, James Tennyson and Archie Sharp. Geraghty lost to that trio, but still represented a step-up for Kelly. With that potential banana-skin out of the way, the tests do not get any easier.

It is a rare treat to see two emerging fighters risk it all against one another. Marksby could have carried on moving through the gears against veterans. Those sort of learning fights can prove beneficial. A safe pathway to a world rankings. 

Equally, there was nothing stopping Kelly from continuing to thrive at domestic level, with a long-term aim to move towards European and perhaps even world goals. A lofty target perhaps given the fact he is 29 and relatively inexperienced in the pro ranks. But as a former Irish Elite champion as an amateur, the pedigree is there.

Instead, barring a stalemate of some kind, somebody’s ‘0’ does indeed have to go. Each man is taking a step or two they could have got away with avoiding. Marksby takes an away assignment in his opponent’s home country. Kelly drops back down to super lightweight despite his success in the division above. They say there is no reward without risk. A round of applause for these undefeated boxers for risking it all. 

Marksby vs Kelly Full Card

Michael Conlan vs Jack Bateson

Charlie Edwards vs Salvador Juarez

Ben Marksby vs Senan Kelly

Dan Toward vs Khalid Ennachat

Glenn Byrne vs Charly Lopez

Dean Walsh vs Jamil Elo

Kieran Molloy vs Nourdeen Toure

Kevin Cronin vs Grant Dennis

Codie Smith vs Mario Victorino Vera

Paul Loonam vs Jake Pollard

Cain Lewis vs Erick Omar Lopez

Kian Hedderman vs Alexandru Crasnitchii

Gerard Hughes vs TBA

Marksby vs Kelly Prediction

Kelly is a pressure fighter. He makes things happen. The Irish boxer’s wild swings on the inside do leave him open to counters and his lack of power means it can be hard to impose his will. But expect Kelly to jump on Marksby from the word go.

Marksby is tidy, has good footwork and measures range well with a low-slung left lead. Kelly may try and catch him for hanging that hand below the waist. But I think Marksby can time his opponent’s raids, with Kelly sometimes tending to abandon defence when in-close. 

I’m picking Marksby to take this one at 1/5.

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