There’s no guessing what Kelly’s strategy will be on Saturday. He’s going to be a hit-and-run artist, looking for only single shots. He can’t afford to stand and trade with Murtazaliev because his survival rate fighting that way can be measured in minutes before he gets it.
In theory this could help a fighter but if they are backed by the big money players or are PPV attractions. In Murtazaliev’s case, neither applies. So, he was shut out of the big fights he deserved.
Saturday’s card at the Newcastle Arena in Newcastle, England will feature Murtazaliev vs. Kelly appeared. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN, beginning at 2:00 PM ET. On the undercard, accomplished super featherweight Josh Padley will fight Jaouad Belmehdi in a 12 round battle for the vacant EBU 130 lb title.
Fans may remember Padley as the opponent chosen by WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson to use as a replacement last February in Riyadh. Padley was selected over Jadier Herrera and was struck out in one of Shakur’s rare shutouts.
The 2016 Olympian Kelly is in a must-win situation. Another championship-level loss wouldn’t necessarily end his career, but it would be a big enough setback that he could never claw his way back. I mean, it took him five years to come back from his sixth-round knockout loss to David Avanesyan in 2021. Kelly was young enough to rebuild slowly, but if he tries now at 31, he’ll run out of youth.
If Kelly prevails, he will be the new IBF 154 lb title holder, and it will open the door for lucrative fights against the big names, Jaron Ennis, Vergil Ortiz Jr., and Sebastian Fundora. Ennis has already been mentioned as a potential opponent for Kelly if he can get his hands on the IBF belt. However, this is a perfect world type situation as he is the underdog, and is expected to be wiped out by Murtazaliev.
