In a remarkable display of resilience, Josh Kelly has clinched the IBF light-middleweight championship by overcoming a knockdown to defeat Bakhram Murtazaliev in a thrilling match held in Newcastle.
The boxer from Sunderland, Kelly, faced a significant challenge when he was knocked down in the ninth round by the formidable Russian fighter Murtazaliev. Although there were two additional instances later in the bout where Kelly stumbled, the referee deemed those moments as slips rather than knockdowns.
Earlier in the fight, Kelly had showcased his power by sending Murtazaliev to the canvas with a powerful left hook in the fourth round. Ultimately, the judges’ scores reflected a competitive contest, with one adjudicator giving Kelly a 115-111 score, another evaluating it as 114-113 in favor of Kelly, and the third judge scoring the match a 113-113 draw.
In an exciting boxing landscape, Kelly's victory marks a historic achievement as he becomes the first world champion from Sunderland. After the fight, he expressed his emotions during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live, stating, "It feels like a dream. I envisioned this. I had to concentrate – I feel overwhelmed. I need to take a moment backstage to gather my thoughts. I'm mentally exhausted."
This win adds to Kelly's impressive record, making it eight consecutive victories since suffering his only professional loss to David Avanesyan back in February 2021. As of now, there are six male British boxers holding world titles, including Kelly and his fellow champions: Fabio Wardley in the heavyweight category, Lewis Crocker in welterweight, Jazza Dickens in super-featherweight, Nick Ball in featherweight, and Dalton Smith in super-lightweight.
Notably, Kelly, affectionately known as 'Pretty Boy' and trained by Adam Booth, demonstrated his skill in the ring by not only knocking Murtazaliev down but also maintaining strategic control throughout the fight, despite the challenges he faced. Murtazaliev, who had boasted an impressive record of 22 wins before this bout, made a strong attempt to reclaim dominance with his own powerful left hand that knocked Kelly down in the ninth round, yet Kelly’s agility and tactics proved superior in the end.
