Bilal Fawaz dominates Ryan Kelly to claim British super welterweight title

Bilal Fawaz claimed the British super welterweight title after a spectacular victory over Ryan Kelly on Saturday 2 May at the University of Wolverhampton at The Halls.

Nigerian-born fighter Bilal Fawaz proved his staying power in the super welterweight division with a dominant win over Ryan Kelly. He quickly rose through the amateur ranks before turning professional, where he built a record of 14 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. He eventually established himself as one of the UK’s top super welterweight contenders, with a style focused on pressure and quick combinations.

Fawaz went up against Ryan Kelly, who is based in Birmingham and turned professional in 2015. He is no stranger to tough opposition in the division, having faced fighters such as Liam Smith, who went on to beat Chris Eubank Jr. Kelly holds a record of 20 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw and is known for his solid work rate in the ring, putting pressure on his opponents with his technical style.

The fight was fast-paced, with both Kelly and Fawaz showing strong cardio. However, Fawaz began to assert control with higher output and heavy combinations. He stunned Kelly in round four with a right hand that sent him back onto the ropes. Kelly showed resilience to remain in the fight, but Fawaz continued to apply pressure, wobbling him again in the ninth round before the referee stepped in to wave off the contest, resulting in a technical knockout.

So what’s next for Bilal? At 38 years old, some question how long he can keep this up. However, Fawaz has shown an interest in ramping things up and targeting world titles, with ambitions of taking on big names such as Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. “I will finish them,” he said, showing his ambitions for the top of the division.