Bilal Fawaz stopped Ryan Kelly in the ninth round to defend his British and Commonwealth titles at the University of Wolverhampton on May 2, 2026.
Fawaz’s victory improved his record to 12 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, with 3 KOs. Meanwhile, Ryan Kelly’s record dropped to 20 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw, including 8 KOs.
Fawaz displayed his boxing prowess throughout the match. He hurt Kelly with accurate combination punching in the fourth round. This significant moment changed the fight’s momentum.
Kelly suffered a cut over his right eye during the bout. He did not come out for the tenth round after the ninth round ended, leading to Fawaz’s victory.
The fight was part of a boxing event broadcast globally on DAZN. Other notable bouts included Conah Walker versus Sam Eggington and Tiah Mai Ayton against Stevi Levy.
Fawaz had previously vowed to make Kelly regret signing the contract for this fight. Observers noted that Kelly was being regularly hurt as his output began to drop off.
Fawaz is seen as a self-assured character with total belief in his ability and fitness. His performance solidifies his status in the super welterweight division.
Shannon Ryan and Harley Burrows also fought on this card. Burrows won decisively with a score of 40-35.
No further details about potential next steps for either fighter have been disclosed yet.