SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT contender Josh Kelly has set his sights on a potential clash with Bakhram Murtazaliev, the formidable IBF world champion, after his next outing.
Not only that, but ‘PBK’ believes that he represents a ‘nightmare’ for the fearsome puncher, insisting that his reputation as the 154lb division’s bogeyman is merely superficial.
In any case, though, the 31-year-old must first take care of business against Flavius Biea, a relatively unknown quantity, when the pair collide this Friday.
Headlining a Wasserman Boxing show at the Newcastle Arena, England, Kelly, 16-1-1 (8 KOs), will return for the first time since his majority decision win over Ishmael Davis last September.
Back then, the slick operator was supposed to lock horns with former world champion Liam Smith, who ultimately pulled out of their contest with an illness.
Instead, late-notice merchant Davis stepped in and, after giving a titanic effort, was able to push Kelly towards a razor-thin points victory.
The Newcastle man, however, nonetheless finds himself occupying a lofty fourth-place ranking with the IBF, seemingly sitting on the cusp of a title shot.
Placed just ahead of him are Xander Zayas – who will soon fight for the vacant WBO strap, thus scuppering his IBF ranking – and Erickson Lubin, the mandatory challenger for Murtazaliev’s red and gold belt.
Murtazaliev, 23-0 (17 KOs), meanwhile, comes off a destructive third-round stoppage victory against Tim Tszyu, which arrived several months after he claimed his title with an 11th-round finish over Jack Culcay
And yet, against Culcay, Kelly firmly believes that the Russian revealed several signs of weakness.
“I feel like I’m a nightmare for [Murtazaliev],” Kelly told Boxing News’ Andi Purewal.
“That would be a great fight, and I’d love to take the challenge. Them fights there are 50/50 fights.
“People would probably favour him, but that’s where I want to be – in fights where I’m going to test myself.
“I watched him against Jack Culcay, and he was getting beat until Culcay punched himself out.
“When I do a job on [Biea] then I’ll be like, ‘yeah, alright, no problem. I feel good; let’s go.’”
