(Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing) NEWCASTLE, England – Josh Kelly defeated Bakhram Murtazaliev by the finest of margins to claim the IBF junior middleweight title at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.There were question marks over whether Sunderland’s Kelly would have the stamina and heart to beat one of the most avoided fighters in the division. Many pointed to Kelly’s sole defeat in the build up, a stoppage loss to David Avaneseyan in 2021, as a mirror of how the fight may play out, and it was similar in some ways. Kelly started fast and had success early on with his flashy footwork and fast hands, even dropping the champion in the fourth round. But as the sessions went by, the Russian started to get closer and closer, and eventually Kelly found himself in a similar position to the one he found himself in against Avaneseyan. Kelly was dropped in the ninth and hurt badly, but unlike against Aveneseyan he did not crumble, gritted his teeth, and pushed back. Murtazaliev continued to come on strong late, but Kelly pushed back to edge the fight and the title from the champion by scores of 113-113, 115-111 and 114-113.Kelly, now 18-1-1 (9 KOs), started by circling the ring, allowing his tall Russian opponent to come forward. Both men’s timing was a little off, but in the second they started to find their range. Kelly was first to land a shot that brought a cheer from his home crowd, but Murtazaliev quickly returned fire with a right hand. Kelly, 31, was having the better of it, the Russian just couldn’t tie down Kelly as he bounced round the ring with his hands low. Early in the fourth it looked as though Murtazaliev, 33, may be starting to find the target when a sharp left hand landed, but as the Russian came into land again, Kelly fired in a sharp jab that sent Murtazaliev tumbling to the floor. Kelly had said earlier in the week that he had envisioned Murtazaliev on the floor, and he had done exactly that, but his foe quickly climbed to his feet.Kelly was enjoying himself, sending his razor sharp jab into Murtazaliev’s face, and the champion seemed to be running out of ideas. Kelly was banking the rounds, and as the fifth came to a close Murtazaliev’s right eye was starting to swell. The Russian upped the tempo in the sixth, grabbing Kelly when the fleet-footed Brit attempted to pivot away from harm. But still Kelly would bounce away, smiling away as he jabbed Murtazaliev in the face. Things were…
2026-01-31 22:30:13
Underdog Josh Kelly dethrones Bakhram Murtazaliev in Newcastle
