In a breathtaking showdown, Josh Kelly delivered a remarkable performance against Bakhram Murtazaliev, clinching the IBF junior middleweight title. At 31 years old, Kelly has long been recognized as one of Britain’s most naturally talented boxers, and he showcased both discipline and determination to secure a majority decision victory. The match was aired live on DAZN, with the judges scoring it 113-113, 115-111, and 114-113 in favor of Kelly.
Typically, athletes from Sunderland might not receive the warmest reception when they venture to Newcastle, just a half-hour away, but Kelly was met with enthusiastic support from a lively crowd. Despite the raucous atmosphere, Murtazaliev, aged 33 and boasting a record of 23 wins with only 1 loss, remained unfazed.
As the fight progressed, Kelly, who is ranked No. 4 by The Ring at junior middleweight, quickly found his rhythm. He adeptly measured the distance and seized opportunities to land powerful right hooks to Murtazaliev’s body. Instead of constantly retreating, Kelly occasionally chose to engage, demonstrating his confidence and skill by landing a precision left hook just before the conclusion of the second round.
Murtazaliev entered the fourth round with a minor injury under his left eye but continued to apply pressure on Kelly. However, he was caught off guard by a perfectly timed left jab that sent him to the canvas. With a grin, Murtazaliev rose to his feet, and Kelly wisely opted to box defensively instead of going for a knockout.
While Murtazaliev appeared to regain some control in the fifth round, he was hit with a strong counter right at the end of the round, followed by another left hand early in the sixth, putting him in a precarious position. Kelly's confidence grew as he playfully showboated in the seventh round, while Murtazaliev struggled to land effective punches.
However, in a surprising turn of events during the ninth round, Murtazaliev managed to floor Kelly with a solid left hook to the head. Although Kelly regained his footing, it was evident he was shaken. His movement became less fluid, but he skillfully evaded significant damage, finishing the round intact and even navigating a surprisingly competitive tenth round.
As the eleventh round commenced, Kelly found his groove again, but Murtazaliev was now connecting with sharp shots, pressing Kelly to stay alert. The twelfth and final round saw both fighters acutely aware that the fight could sway either way. Murtazaliev pushed forward aggressively, but Kelly deftly dodged a flurry of heavy right hands and retaliated with a precise two-handed combination just before the fight went to the judges.
After nearly nine years in the professional boxing arena, Kelly realized his ambition of becoming a champion, positioning himself as a significant contender in a bustling junior middleweight division, potentially setting up a matchup against Jaron 'Boots' Ennis in the near future.
According to CompuBox statistics, Kelly earned the title by utilizing his footwork and enduring Murtazaliev's late-round efforts. Kelly landed 75 out of 202 total punches, achieving a connection rate of 37%, whereas Murtazaliev connected with 93 of 444 attempts, leading to a lower success rate of 21%. Both fighters experienced knockdowns, with Murtazaliev finishing strong in the last four rounds, landing 43 punches compared to Kelly’s 17, but ultimately it proved to be too little, too late.
