Taylor vs McCaskill: Josh Kelly supreme in stoppage victory

By Matt Horan

Josh Kelly reacts to his win over Jean Michel Hamilcaro

Josh Kelly produced another clinical performance as he stopped Jean Michel Hamilcaro to continue his meteoric rise up the rankings.

The Sunderland welterweight dominated, boxing under the iconic York Hall lights for the first time in the paid ranks, to improve his record to 5-0-KO4.

The 23-year-old Kelly claimed victory in the sixth after the referee waved off proceedings following a sustained attack to the body that had Hamilcaro down twice earlier on in the round.

'Pretty Boy', a 2016 Rio Olympian, came out the blocks with his now familiar flashy, confident persona, leaving his hands down by his side as he excellently moved in and out of range and supremely outworked his senior French foe.

In the second, Kelly upped the intensity, varying his punches from head to body, a succession of swift left hooks backing up his outclassed opponent before a perfectly timed left to the body forced a grimace on to the face of the 31-year-old Hamilcaro.

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Under the tutelage of Adam Booth, 'Pretty Boy' has looked supreme so far in his career and again, he produced eye-catching, admirable work that left the Frenchman looking remarkably ordinary and bewildered.

A trademark uppercut landed flush as Kelly again roared into action during the third, but Hamilcaro was proving game and durable, albeit almost running to avoid his younger foe's dazzling hand speed.

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Kelly was in no mood to give the Frenchman any breathing space, hunting his man down relentlessly in the next, before some flush and stylish combinations landed in a comfortable fifth.

With the 31-year-old wilting, a cuffing body shot from Kelly then sent him down in the sixth before, following a sustained attack to the same midriff area, Hamilcaro took a knee. More punishing blows followed and the referee soon mercifully called a halt to the bout.

Afterwards, Kelly said: "Hamilcaro had experience but he didn't really come to win, I had to close him down, he was tough and took shots. The body shots eventually got me the victory.

"I thought that it would go the ten rounds, I was trying not to load up too much. I learnt a lot, but I did think it would be a tougher test. It was nice to get out at York Hall.

"I'm ready whenever Adam Booth and Eddie Hearn think I'm ready to step up."

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