Josh Kelly Dethrones Bakram Murtazaliev to Capture IBF Super Welterweight Title

Photos - Matchroom Boxing

In an early candidate for Upset of the Year, Josh Kelly pulled off the victory tonight in Nottingham, England, dethroning the IBF junior middleweight title from champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. Kelly dropped Murtazaliev in the fourth with a straight counter left, only to have to climb off the canvas himself in the ninth from an inside right to the head. Kelly admitted afterward that he didn’t remember the tenth round even occurring as he suddenly found himself in the eleventh with only two rounds to go. Kelly’s movement, footwork, speed and angles sustained him by the narrowest of margins.

The judges scored the bout 113-113, 115-111 and 114-113, by majority decision. The new IBF junior middleweight champ said he’d take on anyone who wants it, be it the winner of Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou for the WBO/WBA titles or even Jaron “Boots” Ennis. Kelly improves to 18-1-1, 9 KOs, while Murtazaliev loses for the first time at 23-1, 17 KOs.