Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly - Mismatch or intriguing clash?

Rumours are rife that the IBF title bout could land on September 13th, but does Kelly have a chance?

Whilst nothing has been signed and sealed, if rumours are to be believed then the once destined for stardom prospect, turned 154lb division outsider Josh Kelly (17-1-1 9KO), may finally be about to get his shot on the big stage.  

After a topsy turvy career of setbacks and fights falling through, on the September 13th Canelo vs Crawford undercard, ‘PBK’ is reportedly in advanced negotiations to face the fearsome and unbeaten IBF Champion, Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0-0 17KO). 

This would be a monumental step up in class for Kelly, who’s best win probably remains at British level against Troy Williamson back in 2023, which gave his thus far underwhelming career a desperately needed shot in the arm, after coming unravelled and stopped in his one step up to fringe world level against David Avanesyan in 2021. 

A few months after the Williamson fight, following a shutout of an unheralded Argentinian Gabriel Corzo, I wrote an article stating that at the age of 29, this was the time for Josh Kelly to bite the bullet and really start to prove himself against world level names. Through no fault of his own, it must be said that since this point the Sunderland slicksters career has stagnated at best. 

Calls for big fights with the likes of Connor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr have predictably fallen on deaf eyes, given the perceived risk and lack of reward that bigger names will associate him with. A huge opportunity to announce himself on world level against Liam Smith unfortunately fell through at the last minute, meaning in the last two years he has had nothing more than three tick over fights against subpar opposition, keeping the once bullet speed hype train trudging along at a horse carriage pace. 

Now aged 31, if presented with the opportunity, it has to be time for Josh Kelly to show if he can live up to what was once promised.  

If this world title shot is to get over the line, in the opposing corner will stand the 6ft tall, devastatingly powerful and rangy IBF Champion, Bakhram Murtazaliev. With the Russian coming off a three-round obliteration of former 154lb world champion Tim Tszyu, initial rumours of this match-up has been greeted with murmurings of a potential mismatch. 

Given the step up in class, I appreciate that fans may well have preferred to see Murtazaliev in with a Serhii Borachuk or Vergil Ortiz, however stylistically Josh Kelly presents an entirely different proposition. Whilst the Tszyu beat down was undeniably impressive, the short duration of the bout didn’t really give us much of an indication as to the true ability of the heavy handed and deceptively clever champion. 

In his fight before however, an absolute barn stormer against the teak tough German Jack Culcay, there were clear flaws in the Russians game that Kelly and mastermind trainer Adam Booth will feel they can exploit. The relentlessly aggressive 38-year-old Culcay marched Murtazaliev down all night, landing huge shots at will in an epic back and forth encounter, ending with the brave former Olympian Culcay coming unstuck in the eleventh round. 

If an aging and battle-hardened Jack Culcay can clip Murtazaliev as often as he did, Kelly will certainly feel his sharp counters, varied repertoire and lightning-fast pot shots will be able to find their home.  

There is no question that Murtazaliev would be a huge favourite heading into this bout, and rightly so, yet for me claims of a mismatch are wide of the mark. Up at 154lb’s, it must be said that Kelly looks a far stronger and confident fighter, holding his feet and sitting down on his shots, even getting two one punch knockouts in his last three run outs. It is also worth noting that Murtazaliev’s two biggest wins, have both come against more pedestrian, shorter, come forward fighters, so we are yet to see how he fairs against a more elusive and counter punching opponent. 

At 31, with self-confessed issues outside of the ring, setbacks and missed opportunities, Josh Kelly deserves his chance to finally prove if his undeniable natural ability can translate to the very top level in the pro game. With his style, speed, newfound pop and relative freshness, for me this is an intriguing clash of styles. He would have to rise to the occasion and box out of his skin for all 12 rounds, but maybe, just maybe, ‘PBK’ might be capable of causing a shock.