Josh Kelly exudes confidence as tensions rise ahead of fight with Bakhram Murtazaliev

Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly final press conference quotes

Tensions were running high as a fired up Josh Kelly warned Bakhram Murtazaliev that his days as champion are numbered following a heated, final stare down at today's Press Conference.

In what is the first World Title fight in a decade here in the North East of England, taking place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena this Saturday, confident local hero Kelly says he is certain that a career defining night awaits when he challenges for the IBF Super Welterweight crown – live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.

The ‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly, trained by renowned coach Adam Booth, believes it is his time to etch his name into the history books and become Britain’s sixth reigning men’s World Champion by doing what no other man has managed to do so far – defeat Murtazaliev.

The imperious Russian, now fighting out of California, USA, has 23 wins with 17 by the way of knockout on his impressive resumé – including his past two victories over the likes of Tim Tszyu and Jack Culcay – but hasn’t stepped inside the ring since October 2024.

Murtazaliev and Kelly are supported by the world's "most dangerous" female fighter Elif Nur Turhan, who says she is looking forward to a blockbuster night of boxing in Newcastle for Matchroom's opening UK show of 2026. The newly crowned IBF World Lightweight Champion defends her recently acquired title against Australia's Taylah Gentzen.

In the co-main event, Josh Padley challenges Jaouad Belmehdi for the vacant EBU Super Featherweight Championship as menacing Heavyweight wonderkid Leo Atang looks ahead to his fifth professional contest, with stablemate and promising Cruiserweight prospect Brad Casey also in action.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist amateur standout and North-East native Kiaran MacDonald makes his long-awaited professional debut. Plus, rising hometown Super Bantamweight fan favourite Lee Rogers will be out to stretch his record to 7-0.

And don’t blink as we look forward to a pulsating North-East derby between Newcastle’s unbeaten Josh Blenkiron and Jarrow’s undefeated Robbie Colman for the Northern Area Lightweight title.

Scroll down to find selected quotes from the final press conference.

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.

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.

Murtazaliev vs Kelly fight predictions

EGIS KILMAS – MANAGER OF BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV: It’s great to be back in the UK. back in uk. The fans, the people here are boxing fans, who understand the sport and we're looking forward to it – we're looking forward to go in the ring and get booed. But after the fight they're gonna line up and they are going to ask can make a picture with you? When Sergey Kovalev beat Nathan Cleverly years ago, I remember when we were going into the ring and everybody was booing and yelling and whistling. But after the fight there was a line up next to the ring. So, we are looking forward for it. I believe my man brings everything what he he needs to bring on Saturday night. And I have no doubts the IBF title is going to still be in the place where it's supposed to be. We look forward to Saturday – and then there are bigger fights on the horizon.

ADAM BOOTH – TRAINER AND MANAGER OF JOSH KELLY: It's been a long journey. It's nine years. There’s no such thing as a straight line to success. It's squiggly, it's up, it's down. And when someone has immense talent, talent isn't enough. If it was all about talent, Josh could have fought for the world title on his first fight. But there's things in life and things in the sport that you have to go through to become a complete man and fighter. And that's why I'm confident about Josh because I've seen the evolution. I've seen him come back from the worst moments where we have a mature man in his prime without many miles on the clock, with unique skill, a unique flow and state IQ. I'm confident as a challenger, and as a trainer. I'm not going to divulge anything that I've looked at. He’s [Bakram Murtazaliev] a very good fighter. He’s a World Champion and justifiably so. It kind of makes us even more excited because it's real. You're fighting someone that everybody's saying they don't want to fight. And, right from the get go, Joshua said I want to fight him. So here we are.

JOSH PADLEY: It’s been coming up a year now since I stepped in for the Shakur [Stevenson] fight. This will be my third fight with Matchroom, with two being for International titles and now this one for the European, where I’ll top things off and move back towards that World Title stage. It’s a massive opportunity for myself with a major title on the line. I am going to give it everything I have got and make it three out of three. When you get to this stage now, you know that every fighter is going to be at a good level. He’s in that position for a reason, so he deserves this shot as much as I do. I think it should make for a very decent fight.

ELIF NUR TURHAN: This is not the end of my goal [becoming World Champion]. This is the beginning. Ahead of me, I have many more big things to come and I want to achieve them. The most important thing to me is defending this title and then moving on to win more. Of course, I thank Eddie for what he has said [“the most dangerous female puncher in the world”] but punching the hardest is not the most important thing when it comes to fighting. Discipline and fight IQ is just as important. I’ve prepared as hard as I can for this fight, so hopefully I can show what I am all about and what I have got. But I thank you [Eddie] for your kind opinion. I’ve prepared as hard as I can to perform well on these big stages and whatever comes on the night, it will be as a result of my hard work.

LEO ATANG: I’m getting the activity that I was promised and I wanted, especially on the big stage, which is great – and I’m very grateful for all of these opportunities. Of course, there is still pressure on me and there are some nerves, purely because it means so much to me. But I’m starting to get used to it now with all the outside commitments that come with it like media interviews and more which was all new to me away from my boxing. I’m taking it all in my stride now. Once you get in the ring anyway, you do your thing,. Any fighter would be lying if they said they didn’t want a first round knockout. However, I also know that sometimes you do need to get the rounds in and get more experience under your belt. If that’s what I can get out of this one, then so be it.