Middleweight Jimmy Kilrain Kelly (26-2, 10 KOs) scored a sensational majority victory over the previously undefeated 20 to 1 favorite and No. 8 WBO rating Rope "QazaQ" Islam (28-1, 22 KOs) in the Friday night main event at the Whitesands Arena in Plant City, Florida.
37-year-old two-time Olympic participant Islam entered the ring clearly not in the mood for a duel, and Kelly managed to outplay him in most episodes of the duel. After ten rounds, the judges scored 95-95 and 96-94, 97-93 in favor of Kelly, who thus won the vacant WBO "global" title.
“I knew I was winning every round,” Kelly said after the fight. - I even injured my hand and could only box with a jab for the last four rounds. Despite this, I still believe that I won every round. I felt his pressure, but did not feel his strength. Kanat kept trying to catch me on the counterattack, but I didn't give him a chance."
