Darragh Kelly: 'It was time to remind people who I am'

Darragh Kelly has put the lightweight division on notice – he's here to stay.

The Moville man went to featherweight for wins over Dorval Jordan and Jelle Zeegers in 2023, but believes he can be a potent force in the 155lb division.

Kelly submitted Mathias Poiron via a guillotine choke in the first round at the 3Arena on Saturday night.

Dan Miragliotta, the referee, called a halt after only 99 seconds of the opening stanza, with Kelly improving his pro record to 6-0.

“I went down to featherweight last year, I wanted to feel out the water and see what it was like, but it wasn't the right fit for me,” Kelly said.

“I lost a bit of hype over that, but I'm back 100% at lightweight and it's time to remind people who I am – and let the division know who I am.

“I was too big for featherweight. After fights, I was going up to 86, 87kgs; it was absolutely crazy to try to get down there.

“I thought to myself that because I could do it that it was the best thing to do, but I'm just a different animal at lightweight. I am far more explosive, far stronger and far better suited to this weight class.

“I'm back stronger. I'm more durable. I'm more explosive. I'm hungrier. I'm back now and this is it. I'm 100% back at lightweight.”

This was a fourth straight stoppage for Kelly.

The 26-year-old 'Moville Mauler' has been touted as one to watch even before he flipped over to the paid ranks.

Operating out of the Straight Blast Gym, where Conor McGregor, among others, does his work, Kelly has made waves, but perhaps not as many as he'd have wished. Now, having fought – and won – the first fight of a new four-bout contract, he wants to make real inroads in this division.

Kelly has been critical of himself in the past, but the Donegal man, at last, seemed content with his shift.

He said: “Finally, I have got one that I'm happy with. It has been a long time coming.

“I haven't lived up to who I am at all. That has been very frustrating for me and I needed to go out and show what I'm capable of.

“I know it was short, but that's the standard that I want to strive for in every fight. Going to featherweight, it just wasn't the right fit.”

After coming back from a hand injury earlier this year, Kelly linked up with Jordan Moore and Emmet Brennan, an Olympic boxer, at the FightR gym in Dublin's north inner city.

He said: “I'm loving the boxing. I'm really levelling up, but the most important thing is that I'm enjoying it. I am a much more well-rounded fighter than I was last year.

“I have done more boxing than anything in this camp. My whole plan was to show my improvement and really shock him. That's what I wanted to do, but I'll take a first round sub too when I get it!

“No matter how many times I get in here, I get the same emotions, nerves, everything.

“I've built up power in my hands and I can't wait to show it. I thought that this was going to be the time, but maybe next time.”

When Kelly locked in the choke, Poiron looked in big trouble. Kelly stayed locked in and, although his French opponent remained in the game on the take down, it wasn't long before it was over.

It appeared at one stage that Poiron tapped, but the referee soon made the decision for him.

Kelly said: “I didn't feel a tap, but I said to Dan: 'He's out'. I felt his body go limp. I felt all the effort going out of him. Dan says: 'No he's not'. Two seconds later it was: 'Now, he's out'.”

Kelly got a significant bump up the card. Nine months after beating Zeegers, also at the 3Arena, he was on the main TV part of the bill

He said: “That was the liveliest crowd that I have ever fought in front of. It was brilliant.

“It's a massive difference being on the main card. It shows that they have faith in me. I just had to go out and show that I was worthy of it.”