Ishmael Davis vs Josh Kelly Predictions: Late replacement changes everything

Josh Kelly gets a late replacement this Saturday, September 21, as he takes on Ishmael Davis. ‘Pretty Boy’ had been set for the biggest fight of his career, a clash with ex-WBO world champion Liam Smith. But after his opponent withdrew with an injury, he has been matched with the unbeaten Davis.

The bout takes place at Wembley Stadium on the undercard of Daniel Dubois’ IBF heavyweight title defence against Anthony Joshua. DAZN PPV and Sky Sports Box Office will televise the action.

Here are my Davis vs Kelly predictions ahead of this intriguing middleweight clash.

This was all set to be Kelly’s coming out party. On the cusp of a WBO super welterweight title clash with champion Sebastian Fundora, this sojourn to middleweight was going to be his first taste of a world level opponent. The experience gained would have been in service to Kelly’s world title chance.

Now, the 30-year-old faces a very different opponent. Smith is a 36-year-old ex-champion who has been in with the likes of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and beaten Chris Eubank Jr. Davis is a 29-year-old unbeaten prospect making noise at domestic level, but yet to swim in elite waters. Less seasoned than Smith but arguably more ambitious. A fighter with his best days ahead, not behind him. 

Kelly will be keen to recalibrate and deliver. This is not his first time on a big stadium show, or an AJ undercard. Kelly beat Carlos Molina at the Principality Stadium back in 2018, the night Joshua beat Joseph Parker to unify the IBF and WBO heavyweight titles. 

That night, Kelly was a young fighter with big dreams. Now he is a ranked contender with titles ahead. But first, ‘Pretty Boy’ must get through Davis. Wembley can be a beautiful stage for a fighter to make an impact. It can also consume those unworthy in its cavernous environs. The pressure is on as Kelly takes on a fight where victory is the absolute minimum requirement.

Davis might have something to say about that. He is coming off a career-best win. Last time out Davis outpointed former British champion Troy Williamson. In a nice piece of symmetry, Kelly is one of only two other men to have beaten Williamson.

That fight was a step-up for Davis and he takes another mammoth leap here. Putting aside the glitzy setting, this is only the fifth time he has boxed a fighter with a winning record. Davis may have only had three less fights than Kelly, but the level of those fights has been very different. Davis was fighting journeymen when Kelly was challenging former world champion David Avanesyan for the European title.

The motivations are clear for both men, which makes for an incredibly exciting fight. Kelly needs a victory to fulfil his world title destiny. Davis has been handed this bolt from the blue, a chance to shock the world on the biggest stage. Whatever happens when the bell rings, it will define the careers of these men.

Ishmael Davis vs Josh Kelly Fight Odds

Kelly is 1/2 to get the job done here. Davis is 7/4 to spring a surprise while the draw is pitched at 16/1.

Ishmael Davis vs Josh Kelly Full Card

Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois (c); IBF heavyweight title 

Tyler Denny (c) vs. Hamzah Sheeraz; European middleweight title 

Anthony Cacace (c) vs. Josh Warrington; IBO super featherweight title 

Joshua Buatsi vs. Willy Hutchinson; Light heavyweight 

Mark Chamberlain vs. Josh Padely; Lightweight

Josh Kelly vs Ishmael Davis; Middleweight

Ishmael Davis vs Josh Kelly Prediction

I am going straight down the line here with the 1/2 Kelly victory. Given the late shift in opposition and Davis’ contrasting nature with Smith, Kelly will be after a win by any means necessary. I think he will get it, too.

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