A deal was agreed between IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and Josh Kelly for a combat on January 31, 2026, in England. Tuesday’s purse bid was reportedly canceled after a deal was reached for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing to advertise the occasion.
Dan Rafael broke the story earlier immediately. #3 IBF Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) will likely be getting his first title shot after eight years within the professional ranks. It’s a troublesome one for him, as he lacks energy and is overmatched in the one different time he fought an enormous puncher, in David Avanesyan, in a sixth-round knockout defeat on February 20, 2021.
Murtazaliev’s Yr-Lengthy Wait Ends
Bakhram (23-0, 17 KOs) has lastly acquired a combat after sitting on the sidelines for a strong 12 months after scoring a career-best third-round knockout win over Tim Tszyu on October 19, 2024.
The Grozny, Russia-born Murtazaliev, 32, had hoped to capitalize on his upset victory over former WBO 154-lb champion Tszyu with huge fights. He’s been handled like a leper by the highest contenders and champions at junior middleweight. None of them has proven any curiosity in preventing him.
Is Kelly a Step Down for Champion?
Kelly, 31, is one of the best that Murtazaliev’s workforce might dig up, and that’s clearly nowhere close to the highest canines that he would have most well-liked to combat. If Bakhram appears like pure spectacular destroying Josh on January 31, 2026, maybe a number of the reluctant prime fighters will present curiosity in preventing him if he doesn’t scare them or their promoters away.
BREAKING: Per supply, on Monday evening deal was made for combat between IBF 154 titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev & obligatory challenger Josh Kelly & Tuesday’s purse bid is canceled. Struggle alleged to be Jan. 31 at website TBA in England. Matchroom Boxing will promote the combat. #boxing
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) October 28, 2025
The 2016 Olympian Kelly has gained his final seven fights since shedding to Avanesyan in 2021. Nevertheless, Kelly’s opposition has been removed from sensational. Of these seven, Ishmael Davis stands out, and he’s misplaced three out of his final 4 fights. That sort of tells you the extent of opposition that Kelly has been preventing since his loss to Avanesyan.
Social Media Predicts a Bloodbath
Followers on social media immediately have been ripping the Murtazaliev-Kelly combat, labeling it as a bloodbath ready to occur. They’re not giving Kelly an opportunity to defeat Bakhram, predicting an early knockout.
Boxing Information 24 » – An Analyst’s Perspective » Bakhram Murtazaliev Lastly Will get a Struggle — however Josh Kelly Wasn’t the Assertion Opponent He Deserved
Final Up to date on 10/28/2025
