Kelly calls out Benn after first-round stoppage win
Josh Kelly (right) has rebuilt his career since defeat by David Avanesyan in 2021 [Getty Images]
Sunderland fighter Josh Kelly called out Conor Benn after making light work of Flavius Biea at Newcastle Arena.
Kelly, 31, bulldozed Biea in one round of their light-middleweight bout, dropping the Romanian with a left hook.
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With just over a minute of the round left, 35-year-old Biea was slow to rise to beat the referee's count, prompting the official to wave off the contest.
Asked about who he wanted to fight next, Kelly called out domestic rival Benn.
"If it's a big domestic fight, [I want] Benn," Kelly replied.
"If it's not Benn, if he doesn't want to take that fight, then it'll be a big world-title fight.
"In every governing body I'm ranked number four or number three, two in some governing bodies.
"I'm there. I've been knocking on the door for some time. I'm in my prime now. Let me run, let me run."
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Benn is still considering his next move after suffering the first defeat of his career by Chris Eubank Jr in April.
The Englishman usually fights at welterweight, but moved up to middleweight to face Eubank.
Kelly improved his record to 17 wins, one loss and one draw, collecting just the ninth stoppage victory.
After a derailing loss to David Avanesyan in 2021, Kelly has rebuilt his career with seven wins in a row.
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