Marcus Kelly’s performance against Daniel Dubois was so pathetic the officials should hold an inquiry into how he was considered suitable

IT’S an accepted fact of boxing life that highly-rated heavyweight prospects feast on sacrificial lambs when making their debuts.

Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis, Anthony Joshua and Mike Tyson were no exceptions when they started out on the road to their world boxing titles.

Reuters

Reuters

And the statistics for their first fights make interesting reading. Bruno took 2min 31sec to dismantle the body in front of him, Lewis’ slightly more difficult job lasted 3min 19sec, Joshua only kept us waiting 2:47 and Tyson demolished his prey in 1:47.

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But the man Dangerous Daniel Dubois had to face was so pathetic, British Boxing Board of Control officials will be holding an inquiry into how he was considered suitable.

Triple D is the 6ft 5in, 16st 7lb teenage powerhouse who gave up the distinct possibility of winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to turn pro.

It’s well known the Londoner has more than held his own sparring with Joshua. And good judges believe his dynamite punching and technical ability would already prove too much for many of the top 15 British big boys.

So, understandably, there was tremendous interest in seeing the giant 19-year-old punching for pay for the first time last Saturday in Manchester.

But the anticipation quickly evaporated as soon as his late substitute opponent bounced into the ring.

Marcus Kelly was carrying so much blubber he made the Michelin Man appear to have been on a crash diet.

Reuters

Reuters

Reuters

The Truro fighter managed to throw a few wild swings roughly in Dubois’ direction.

But Triple D, mercifully with one clubbing left hook, made sure the farcical situation was over in just 35 seconds.

Nobody could take the slightest pleasure out of such an embarrassing few moments — least of all Dubois.

It would have been far better if his opening night had been postponed until his May 20 bout at Stratford’s Copper Box Arena.

We are assured Daniel will then be up against someone who will at least resemble a professional fighter.

BT TV are besotted with Nicola Adams, Britain’s double Olympic flyweight champion who was also a Manchester Arena debutante.

She pranced her way to an unexciting, four-round points victory over Argentina’s Virginia Carcamo in front of a mainly disinterested crowd.

Nicola is a delightful character who has done her country proud.

But in my opinion, the Adams novelty will quickly wear off and fight fans will consider her a boring sideshow.

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