Boxing results: Josh Kelly Edges Murtazaliev

Kelly had his best moments early and in the middle rounds. He walked around Murtazaliev, walking him on left hooks and short counters, often landing the cleaner punch in close rounds. His movement sparked frustration from the champion and helped him steal rounds that were otherwise short on clear separation.

Murtazaliev’s strongest argument came through violence and damage. He landed the heavier shots throughout and dropped Kelly with a left hook, a moment that briefly shifted the fight and raised questions about how the rounds were being read. He continued to apply pressure late on, backing Kelly and completing several laps on the front foot.

That tension ran through the scorecards. One judge even saw it at 113-113. Two others sided with Kelly, earning scores of 114-113 and 115-111. The margins reflect the difficulty of the fight to score rather than any sense of control by either.

Kelly improved to 18-1-1 and captured his first world title. It was a disciplined and resilient performance, especially given the knockdown and sustained pressure he faced. At the same time, the result will be debated. Murtazaliev’s power shots and late work made several rounds difficult to put down, and the bigger card for Kelly drew immediate scrutiny.

Murtazaliev fell to 23-1 and lost his IBF belt after just one successful defense. He remained aggressive and durable throughout, and there was little in the fight to suggest a clear gap between the two men.

Kelly celebrated with the home crowd, and the night will be the biggest win of his career. Whether that settles the issue of superiority between the two fighters is another matter entirely.