Josh Kelly Stuns Bakram Murtazaliev, Snatches IBF World Title in Epic Upset – Murtazaliev vs. Kelly Highlights
Josh Kelly delivered the performance of a lifetime, defeating Bakram Murtazaliev to capture the IBF super welterweight world title in an epic upset.
Kelly utilized his world-class footwork, a sharp jab, and precision counterstriking to outland his Russian opposition over their 12-round affair inside Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England. An early moment for Kelly came in the fourth round, when he floored the now-former champion with a perfectly timed counter left.
Murtazaliev recovered well, but the knockdown gave Kelly an early lead that would prove invaluable.
Kelly continued to outshine Murtazaliev in the middle rounds, but the Brit showed signs of slowing heading into the ninth. Murtazaliev capitalized, clocking Kelly with a left hook at the halfway point of the stanza. Smelling blood in the water, Murtazaliev pushed for the finish, but Kelly held on long enough to make it out of the round.
After a rough start to the fight, Murtazaliev finished strong by pressuring Kelly and landing combinations in close. Still, Murtazaliev repeatedly found himself walking into Kelly’s jab and counters. Murtazaliev tightened the gap in the final three rounds, but in the end, it wasn’t enough for him to keep his gold.
Official Result: Josh Kelly def. Bakhram Murtazaliev via majority decision (113-113, 115-111, 114-113) to capture the IBF superweight welterweight world championship.
“I’m a kid from the northeast, 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 northeast, but Sunderland. Everyone has the backing of us in the northeast — Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough. Big yourselves up, you’re f*cking unbelievable.
“Was it Round 9 I got knocked down? If it weren’t for this crowd and the energy behind us, I wouldn’t have got up and carried on, I don’t think. Listen, history has been made tonight. The first world champion from Sunderland, and that’s another from the northeast. Let’s go!”
