Boxing
'Toughest test!' - Kelly feted by British rival ahead of rematch test
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Troy Williamson has named Josh Kelly as the "toughest test" he has faced, revealing there is no bad blood between the pair.
The former returns to the ring next month for a rematch with Callum Simpson after an upset win over his foe last December.
Having passed on a world title opportunity while being held to a second dance, Williamson wants another statement victory.
But ahead of his return to Leeds, the star has revealed that IBF light-middleweight champion Kelly remains his hardest fight.
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"You've got to say, stylistically, [he] was my toughest test," he was quoted by Boxing Scene. "We were pals when we fought.
"It's just a business at the end of the day. We had to build the fight, and we had to s—-talk to get [it] going. That's what we did.
While Simpson is gunning for revenge, Williamson believes victory can tee up a dream chance to earn his world-level stripes.
"I’d love to become a world champion,” he added on his next move. “I will become a world champion by the end of this year."
Kelly himself will be back in action later this month, when he makes the first defence of his crown against Caoimhin Agyarko.
The pair form part of the stacked undercard for Anthony Joshua's heavyweight tune-up bout with Kristian Prenga in Jeddah.
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