Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly weights, running order, ringwalks, quotes and betting odds
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly official weigh-in results
A dancing Josh Kelly strutted in front of his roaring home faithful at today’s Weigh-In as he faced-off with an unmoved, Bakhram Murtazaliev for a final time ahead of their crunch IBF World Super Welterweight Championship clash in Newcastle – live on DAZN.
The North East native and 2016 Team GB Olympian will bid to become only Britain's sixth reigning men's World Champion when he challenges the undefeated Murtazaliev in the Main Event of a stacked card at the Utilita Arena.
Both fighters comfortably made the weight limit – and Kelly is confident he will realise his lifelong dream and win the gold on Saturday night.
"Being around my friends and my loved ones, I just feel really chilled out and relaxed. Everything is taken care of now and, with the right mindset, everything will take of itself in that ring," Kelly said, speaking on DAZN to presenter Jamie Ward and former World Champion Darren Barker.
"It's deceptive how hard I hit and that's the key. I'm not comparing myself to Floyd Mayweather at all, but people overlooked his power and then realised how hard he hit. I feel like I have got that snapping, hard power where people have to think about it and don't want to get hit by it again. He will have to deal with what I have.
"I feel great at this weight. I boxed at this weight around ten years ago, then went down to Welterweight and later back up again. I feel at home and feel so good. I'm ready to go now. I'm just a kid from a council estate, living his dream. Now I just need to put everything I've worked on into practice tomorrow.
"There's no doubt in my mind that I am going to walk away with that belt tomorrow. 100 per cent."
Full Weigh-In results and Fight Night running order can be found below.
Prelims Live on DAZN from 5pm
Brad Casey (199.3lbs)
Lee Roberts (196.3lbs)
4x3 Cruiserweight Contest
Lee Rogers (121.3lbs)
Erick Omar Lopez (121.2lbs)
6x3 Super Bantamweight Contest
Kiaran Macdonald (117.7lbs)
Marius Vysniauskas (116.95lbs)
4x3 Bantamweight Contest
Josh Blenkiron (134.8lbs)
Robbie Colman (134.7lbs)
10x3 Northern Area Lightweight Title
Main Card Live on DAZN 7pm
Leo Atang (236lbs)
Amine Boucetta (241.25lbs)
4x3 Heavyweight Contest
Elif Nur Turhan (134.55lbs)
Taylah Gentzen (134.15lbs)
10x2 IBF World Lightweight Championship
Josh Padley (129.7lbs)
Jaouad Belmehdi (128.5lbs)
12x3 EBU European Super Featherweight Championship
Main Event
Bakhram Murtazaliev (152.2lbs)
Josh Kelly (153.65lbs)
12x3 IBF World Super Welterweight Championship
Quotes
Josh Kelly: This is where I belong. This is where I’m meant to be. There’s been cracks inside, outside of life, what you’ve got you’ve got to deal with and what you’ve got to go through. And you don’t really know why they’re happening at the time. You know, God’s got you, and he’s going to to make everything his plans bigger than yours. So I’m in a great position now. It’s all come round to this. I feel at home, I feel relaxed. This is everything I’ve visioned and everything I’ve I’ve thought about. It has come to fruition, including this. So I can’t wait. I don’t look at exterior. I was saying this the other day. I said if Bakram never boxed and he worked on a farm, I would work somewhere in a shopping center! So I feel at ease, I feel calm. I’m here and I am ready to put a performance on. I feel great. I believe I will be the new IBF World Champion.
Bakhram Murtazaliev: 15 months out was a long time, but it went very well. I was training a lot and I am looking forward a lot to stepping in the ring on Saturday and do what I like to and what I love to do. They’re confident, as you would expect. It makes me laugh a little bit about knocking me down. But let’s see what Saturday is going to bring and let’s see what’s after the fight.
Betting Odds
4/9 Murtazaliev
5/2 Kelly
20/1 Draw
Murtazaliev vs Kelly fight predictions
