Very few would have bet on him pulling off such a feat against an opponent considered among the most “dangerous” fighters on the world boxing scene. Nevertheless, Josh Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs) managed to overturn the odds and capture the IBF super welterweight world title by defeating Russia’s Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-1-0, 17 KOs) via majority decision after twelve rounds, with scorecards reading 113-113, 115-111 and 114-113.
Bakhram Murtazaliev had long been regarded as something of a boogeyman within the boxing world. He had been inactive for over 15 months, not due to injury or a lack of willingness to fight, but simply because he struggled to find opponents willing to face his power — much like Artur Beterbiev a few years ago, with whom he shares nationality, a menacing appearance, a grim stare, heavy hands, and, conversely, a calm and understated demeanor. The 33-year-old from Grozny made headlines in 2024 by brutally dismantling then highly rated Australian fighter Tim Tszyu, who was saved only by his corner throwing in the towel.
Josh Kelly, the 31-year-old Englishman from Sunderland, was once considered one of the most promising prospects on the international scene. Gifted with lightning-fast reflexes and exceptional hand speed, he stood out for his audacious in-ring style, often fighting with his hands down. His rise was partially halted when he ran into the toughness of David Avanesyan, who stopped him in six rounds. That defeat marked the beginning of a new chapter in Kelly’s career, during which he went on a seven-fight winning streak to earn his long-awaited title shot.
Inside the Newcastle Arena, the two delivered a thrilling clash of contrasting styles. As expected, once the bell rang, Kelly immediately began moving swiftly along the ropes, in stark contrast to the aggressive forward march of his opponent. He showcased impressive hand and upper-body speed from the outset, proving so reactive that he often deceived the eye while counterpunching. Kelly’s elusiveness stood out as both refined and well calculated, especially compared to his younger days, when it was sometimes excessive and unproductive.
The Englishman made it clear early on that he is now a far more mature fighter, and Murtazaliev struggled mightily to pin him down. In addition to his well-known defensive skills, the hometown favorite displayed excellent counterpunching, particularly with his left hook and straight right hand.
In an attempt to wear him down, Murtazaliev tried to work the body, but with little success. Kelly was clever in neutralizing the impact, often deflecting or softening the blows, or avoiding them altogether. On his end, Josh fired sharp, darting punches, including a beautiful jab in the fourth round that briefly sent an off-balance Murtazaliev to the canvas. The Russian got up almost immediately, but the impression was that of a fighter genuinely surprised by the quality of his opponent.
Both men displayed high-level jabs: faster from Kelly, sturdier from Murtazaliev. From the very beginning, the difference-maker was the Englishman’s extraordinary speed, now not just a technical flourish but a true weapon designed to give him the edge in exchanges.
Kelly’s lead left hook repeatedly caught Bakhram by surprise, frustrating him with his elusiveness and, when necessary, with clever clinching at the first sign of danger. The visible damage on Murtazaliev’s face, contrasted with a nearly “unmarked” Kelly, spoke volumes about the Russian’s difficulties in effectively cutting off the ring. Kelly not only demonstrated excellent footwork but also unleashed his full defensive repertoire, consistently causing Murtazaliev’s feared left hook to miss wildly. His confidence in the ring, bordering on bravado, led him at times to drop his hands completely — without incurring serious danger — and even to land his own left hook at will. Thus, in the eighth round, the Englishman allowed himself the “luxury” of catching Murtazaliev first with a sharp straight right, then with a magnificent high-speed combination: right hook, left uppercut to the body, and a closing left hook.
Just when the fight seemed to be slipping away on momentum alone, Murtazaliev landed a beautiful left hook to the temple in the ninth round that momentarily put Kelly on the canvas. Wisely, the Englishman took a few seconds before rising and then clinched to prevent Murtazaliev from unleashing his power. Kelly also absorbed a heavy right hand that visibly knocked him off balance, though it caused little damage, well cushioned by his backward movement.
After the one-minute rest, Josh returned to the ring rejuvenated, sticking to his game plan of elusiveness and obstruction. Despite Murtazaliev’s late-round assault, his punches lacked effectiveness, either due to poor accuracy or because they were neutralized by Kelly’s excellent work. The Englishman did not even appear overly fatigued despite the constant movement; on the contrary, he again taunted his opponent by dropping his hands, countering him from unusual angles.
At the end of twelve rounds, there was no doubt about who deserved the victory. Josh Kelly delivered a spectacular performance, fighting with intelligence and physicality, finally using the tools that had made him famous in his youth in a mature and incredibly effective way — especially against such a feared opponent, the bogeyman of an entire division. It was a bitter setback for Murtazaliev, who was completely neutralized by his opponent’s footwork and speed, unable to find an answer to the Josh Kelly puzzle.