Josh Kelly delivered the performance of his life, defeating Bakram Murtazaliev to earn the victory IBF world super welterweight title in an epic upset.
Kelly used his world-class footwork, sharp strike and precise counter-attacks to defeat his Russian opposition during their twelve-round affair at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England. An early moment for Kelly came in the fourth round, when he defeated the now former champion with a perfectly timed counter.
Murtazaliev recovered well, but the knockdown gave Kelly an early lead that would prove invaluable.
Kelly continued to outwork Murtazaliev in the middle rounds, but the Brit showed signs of slowing heading into the ninth. Murtazaliev capitalized and clocked Kelly with a left hook midway through the stanza. Murtazaliev smelled blood in the water and pushed for the finish, but Kelly held on long enough to get out of the round.
After a rough start to the fight, Murtazaliev finished strong by pressuring Kelly and landing combinations in close range. Yet Murtazaliev repeatedly found himself running into Kelly’s jab and counters. Murtazaliev closed the gap in the final three laps, but in the end it was not enough to retain his gold.
Official result: Josh Kelly def. Bakhram Murtazaliev captured the IBF superweight welterweight world championship via majority decision (113-113, 115-111, 114-113).
“I’m a Northeast kid and everyone from the Northeast knows what it’s like growing up,” Kelly said in his post-fight interview. “Not just a kid from the North East, but Sunderland. Everyone has the support of us in the North East – Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough. Make yourself big, you’re incredible.
“Was it in round 9 that I got knocked down? If it hadn’t been for this crowd and the energy behind us, I wouldn’t have gotten up and continued, I don’t think. Listen, history has been made tonight. The first world champion from Sunderland, and that’s one from the North East at that. Let’s go!”
Watch highlights of Josh Kelly vs. Bakram Murtazaliev:
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