Rabei and Kelly raring to go following title boost

Having a prize as well as local pride on the line has excited and further motivated both Karl Kelly and Victor Rabei ahead of their July 7th clash.

The pair had agreed to meet on the JB Promotions ‘The Beginning’ card but the eight round contest only got BUI Celtic title go ahead in recent weeks.

The title conformation has added to what already looks like a potential fan pleasing bout and brings a light welterweight title into play in an increasingly interesting Dublin scene.

Just like the fans and the other relatively new foes at the weight, both July 7th protagonists are excited that the BUI Celtic title will be on the line.

It’s a chance for Rabei [4(1)-0] and Kelly [1(0)-1(0)] to bag a first career title and both see it as a chance to gain more recognition and take a step toward an Irish title.

“Having the title on the line just adds that much more to the fight,” Rabei, who registered a stoppage win over Belfast’s Mark Morris last time out, told Irish-Boxing.com.

“Having another domestic fight in what will be my fifth fight is great for me. To add a title to that is brilliant, just gives me that much more motivation towards training.”

“I think fighting Karl and getting that belt would slingshot me up the rankings a little bit and get my name out there. Which is what we’re all in the sport for. And it’ll be my first title, which is very exciting,” he added.

‘Little Sexy’ Kelly echoed the sentiment and sees it as an ideal chance to take a step toward an Irish title.

“Ah it’s a great chance so early in my career and one I really am excited about,” a happy and confident Kelly told Irish-Boxing.com.

“Winning this title will put me in the right direction of getting an Irish title shot and that would be more than a dream come true for me. I’m very confident that I will win and that [Irish title] will come,” the JB Promotions fighter added before stressing he isn’t corner cutting ahead of this one.

“I’m training flat out and ain’t cutting any corners at all and been strictly monitored by Jay [Byrne] and Deco [Geraghty Snr] daily both for training and die.”

“Everything is going absolutely perfect and Jay has got me supplement and meal sponsors so I’m in the best shape in this camp and feeling really good.”

While the title seems added incentive both point out that motivation levels were always high going into the derby fight.

“I want to win every fight I take and even though this has a title it still is just another fight that I must get in and do everything to win,” said Kelly.

While Rabei added that “I wouldn’t say the title is more of a reason to win, as I would have trained the same if it wasn’t. I train as hard as I can for every fight, having the belt on the line is just a nice bonus.