‘Pretty boy’ Josh Kelly puts modelling aside for boxing at Rio Olympics

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.

Boxing and modelling would hardly seem to be two professions that go together too well.

Great Britain's Josh Kelly fighting his Egyptian counterpart during the Men's Welter (69kg) match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (AFP File Photo)

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.