RIO DE JANEIRO: Boxing and modelling would hardly seem to be two professions that go together too well.
But that does not stop Britain's Josh Kelly, the self-declared "pretty boy" who made a winning start at the Rio Olympics on Monday after climbing off his sick bed.
Kelly, who said he had been on antibiotics and had a viral infection in the lead-up to the bout, defeated Egypt's Walid Mohamed, also 22, in a scrappy welterweight clash.
"I just keep away from punches, I didn't do that all that well," he said after his unanimous points victory, sporting few visible signs of punishment, when asked by AFP how he combined boxing with part-time modelling.
"But my nose is not all that bad at the moment so we will see how we get on in the next couple of fights."
Kelly's victory was the only high point for Britain, with middleweight Anthony Fowler -- cousin of former England football striker Robbie -- light flyweight Galal Yafai and Lawrence Okolie all falling to defeat on a black Monday for British Olympic boxing aspirations.
IN OTHER NEWS: - Undefeated #1 Ranked Cruiserweight Contender Oleksandr Usyk, (9-0-0, 9KO’s), is deep in training in the beautiful city of Bukovel, Ukraine for his world title showdown with WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Krzystof Glowacki, (26-0-0, 16KO’s) set for Saturday, September 17, 2016 at the Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland.
Gold Medalist for Ukraine in the 2012 Olympics in London, England, the 29-year-old Usyk, promoted by K2 Promotions Ukraine, is looking to become the fastest world champion in cruiserweight division history in his 10th professional fight. The record is currently held by boxing legend Evander Holyfield who captured the world title in his 12th fight against Dwight Muhammed Qawi in 1986.
“I feel terrific and I’m completely focused on winning the world championship on September 17th,” said Usyk. “This was my next goal after winning the Gold Medal in 2012.”
Usyk is coming off his career best victory, a seventh round stoppage of Pedro Rodriguez on December 12, 2015 in Kiev, Ukraine. Glowacki won a 12-round unanimous decision over Steve Cunningham on April 16, 2016 in Brooklyn, New York.
