This weekend marks a pivotal moment in the career of British boxer Josh Kelly, as the former Olympian steps into the ring for his first world title challenge. The Sunderland fighter faces the formidable task of dethroning unbeaten IBF super-welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev in what promises to be a compelling encounter at Newcastle's Utilita Arena.
A Career-Defining Opportunity for Kelly
Josh Kelly's journey to this world title shot has been one of resilience and determination. The 31-year-old represented Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he was eliminated in the last sixteen by eventual gold medallist Daniyar Yeleussinov. While there was no disgrace in that defeat, it represented early disappointment for the young prospect.
Kelly's professional career has experienced its share of setbacks, including a draw with Ray Robinson in 2019 and a stoppage loss to David Avanesyan in 2021. However, the talented super-welterweight has demonstrated impressive character to rebuild his career, capturing both British and International titles and entering this weekend's contest on a seven-fight winning streak.
Now standing at 17-1-1 with 9 knockouts, Kelly faces what many consider his sternest test yet against an undefeated champion who has established himself as one of the division's most avoided fighters.
The Formidable Champion: Bakhram Murtazaliev
Russian champion Bakhram Murtazaliev brings an imposing record of 23-0 with 17 knockouts into this title defence. The 33-year-old captured the IBF super-welterweight title with an impressive victory over Tim Tszyu in October 2024 but has been inactive since that triumph, leading to questions about potential ring rust that Kelly might seek to exploit.
Murtazaliev has established himself as a technically proficient boxer with significant power, having stopped nearly three-quarters of his professional opponents. His victory over Tszyu demonstrated both his boxing intelligence and ability to perform under pressure at the highest level.
Event Details and Viewing Information
The championship bout takes place on Saturday 31 January at Newcastle's Utilita Arena. The main card is scheduled to begin at 7pm GMT, with the main event ring walks expected at approximately 9.30pm GMT.
For viewers in the United Kingdom and worldwide, the event will stream live exclusively on sports streaming service DAZN. The fight is available to all DAZN subscribers without additional pay-per-view charges, with subscription plans starting from £15.99 per month.
Complete Fight Card
The evening's action features several compelling matchups alongside the main event:
- Bakhram Murtazaliev (C) vs Josh Kelly (IBF super-welterweight title)
- Josh Padley vs Jaouad Belmehdi (vacant European super-featherweight title)
- Elif Nur Turhan (C) vs Taylah Gentzen (IBF women's lightweight title)
- Josh Blenkiron vs Robbie Colman (lightweight)
- Leo Atang vs TBA (heavyweight)
- Brad Casey vs TBA (cruiserweight)
- Lee Rogers vs TBA (bantamweight)
- Kiaran MacDonald vs TBA (bantamweight)
Please note that fight cards are subject to change.
Betting Odds and Analysis
Bookmakers currently install champion Murtazaliev as the clear favourite at 3/10, while challenger Kelly is priced at 5/2. A draw is available at 14/1. These odds reflect Murtazaliev's unbeaten record and championship experience, though Kelly's Olympic pedigree and recent form suggest he could present significant problems for the champion.
The key question surrounding this contest centres on whether Kelly can translate his undoubted talent into a world-class performance when it matters most. Having rebuilt his career following earlier setbacks, this represents his opportunity to establish himself among the elite of the super-welterweight division.
For Murtazaliev, the challenge involves shaking off fifteen months of inactivity while dealing with a skilled, motivated challenger fighting in front of what promises to be a passionate home crowd in Newcastle.
