Josh Kelly’s promoter, Kalle Sauerland, was excited about the IBF who ordered the fight between Kelly (17-1-1, 9 COs) and junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 COs). Sauerland says it is now in conversation with the management of Murtazaliev, and about “how and where it can happen.”
Kelly’s long -awaited title shot
Kalle is confident that he will defeat the IBF champion Murtazaliev. He is grateful that Kelly finally gets a title shot after eight years in the pro ranks.
The IBF order the battle
“It is eventually ordered. The IBF ordered it. So, we are in positive conversations with the other side. There are some options on how and where it can occur, ‘promoter Kalle Sauerland said Box newsAnd talk about the fight ordered for the IBF 154-Pond Champion Bakhram Murtazaliev to defend against #3 Josh Kelly.
Sauerland gave no tips on where he wants to raise the Murtazaliev to Kelly battle. It might not matter. Murtzaliev has already shown that he can win in his last seven battles on the road. He has not fought at home in Russia since his collision with his collision Bruno Leonardo Romay on April 18, 2019.
Josh’s moment to grab
“Finally, Kelly’s moment to grab the stage. I want to see him with the belt around his waist. I want him to become a world champion, ‘says Sauerland. “I believe he can do it. Murtazaliev is a tough Russian. When you look at his record, he travels well. He went to Germany and got the results against Jack Culcay. This man is as tough as they come. This is not an easy struggle. “
It is a great order for Kelly to conquer against Murtazaliev, but he has the technical skills to win. Kelly will need to avoid exchanges with Bakhram to get a chance to win. Russian fighter’s last opponent, Tim Tszyu, chose to go directly into the teeth of his offense, and he was destroyed by a third round technical knockout on October 19, 2024.
The 2016 Olympic Kelly has won its last seven fights since losing a sixth round technical knockout on February 20, 2021.
Kelly’s dubious opposition
Josh’s opposition in his last seven fights was not of a high level. This is one of the criticism that fans have of him. Many of them believe that Kelly, 31, through the match done by his promoters, was transferred to his high ranking with the IBF. I can be a massive tear to Kelly’s system to tackle the grown -ups Murtazaliev after the last seven opponents fought Josh.
Kelly’s last seven opponents
– flavius ​​biea
– Ishmael Davis
– Placido Ramirez
– Gabriel Alberto Corzo
– Troy Williamson
– Lucas Brian Ariel Bastida
– Peter Kramer
“Josh agreed to the Jaron ‘Boots’ battle. It didn’t happen. Forty-eight hours later we got the call from the IBF that we were the compulsory. All for a reason,” says Sauerland.
The IBF chose Kelly as the new compulsory after Erickson Lubin decided to accept an offer to challenge Vergil Ortiz JR for his WBC -Tussent time junior middleweight title on November 8, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Before the step, the IBF ordered #1 ranks Lubin and Murtazaliev to start negotiating on July 21, 2025. After Erickson chose to face Ortiz Jr., the Kelly became the next IBF compulsory as he was the highest -ranked contender for the 154 ranking with the sanctioning body.
Last updated on 08/30/2025
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