Josh Kelly is on a roll, winning every fight since his heavy loss to David Avanesyan in 2021, including an impressive British title win over Troy Williamson.

But the questions raised by the loss to Avanesyan have haunted Kelly ever since, and he intends to answer them once and for all when he fights Liam Smith on September 21.

Kelly and Smith will box in the support act for Anthony Joshua against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Smith is a former super welterweight champion who has fought Canelo Alvarez and a host of top fighters, most recently exchanging a win and a loss with Chris Eubank Jr.

He is a master at applying aggressive pressure, and if Kelly hasn’t ironed out the flaws in his boxing, Smith will expose them.

However, Kelly’s trainer Adam Booth is convinced that his fighter is now ready for this test.

“Josh is in top form. The last two and a half years have really been the most important development mentally. He has learned a lot about himself and overcome many problems that he had for years,” said Booth Sky Sports.

“From the first day he walked into my gym six and a half years ago and fought against Billy Joe Saunders, Andy Lee and Liam Williams, he has proven he has what it takes. It’s just that his mind, his attitude, his maturity and his self-awareness have yet to catch up.

“With the work he’s done, that was the case. But now he’s at his best and I’ll really let him compete against anyone.”

Kelly has never boxed above the super welter division, while Smith’s last three fights have been at middleweight, but Booth insists Kelly will not be at a significant disadvantage in terms of size and power.

“Josh is a big fighter at 154 pounds, and Liam is a 154 who is just a little bit older now. He’s tough, experienced and rough enough to be a 160-pound fighter, but the difference between 154 and 160 isn’t that big,” Booth said.

“Knowing Liam and Josh, I expect the difference in the ring to be two pounds at most. It’s an even fight and I think people will be surprised that Josh will be the one who looks bigger when the fight starts.”

Kelly is considered more of a gifted stylist than a destructive force. But in this fight he could change that perception.

“You’re going to see a lot more,” Booth promised. “You’re not going to see the same thing, because the fight against Troy (Williamson) was actually still part of his rehabilitation or development and his self-image and his perspective on life.”

“If you look at the Troy fight, it was a masterpiece of movement and defense. But now he’s much more dangerous. If you go back and look at the footage of Josh and look at him physically now, there’s an immense difference since December 2022, and that’s probably what excites me the most.

“I know he can be hurtful. I know he’s a lot tougher and stronger than people realize because of his boxing style.”

“But since the Troy fight, the bite he brings to his punches in the gym and in the ring has also been evident, and I think September 21st will be more of an evolution.

“He’s far from finished, I think there’s still a lot to be expected from him. But at this stage and where he is, I’m really impressed with how he’s boxing and how he’s handling his day-to-day life and how well he’s landing his punches now.”

Kelly’s results have not lived up to expectations so far, but Booth has not lost faith that his protégé is a special fighter.

“You know a unique talent when you see it and know if that talent can reach its potential,” he said.

“When a talent like Josh Kelly reaches his potential, he reaches the highest level.”

Watch Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium live on Sky Sports Box Office on September 21st.