Fourteen years on from sparring against a future boxing superstar, Jimmy Kilrain Kelly has now joined Tyson Fury as a world champion.
Kelly shocked the world at the weekend as he picked up the WBO Global Middleweight Championship belt with a stunning win over Kanat Islam.
The Manchester boxer beat the previously undefeated Islam via a majority decision in Florida, with scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 95-95 going in favour of the 29-year-old.
Having gone into the bout as a big underdog, Kelly produced the performance of his career so far as he mixed up his attacks and kept Islam off-balance with his jabs and lead rights, with his victory confirmed after 10 pulsating rounds in Plant City.
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