JOSH Kelly’s trainer and manager, Adam Booth, has confirmed talks for a potential showdown with IBF world super-welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
‘PBK’ expressed his interest in the matchup during an interview with Boxing News, insisting that his slippery style would negate the monstrous power of Murtazaliev, 23-0 (17 KOs).
And now, it would appear that there is plenty of bite behind his bark, with the IBF’s fourth-ranked contender looking to take a sizable leap in levels.
Conversely, his last outing delivered a one-round demolition job against Flavius Biea, a starkly overmatched opponent, earlier this month, keeping Kelly, 17-1-1 (9 KOs), a fair distance away from world level.
Prior to that, the 31-year-old produced a sturdy yet unremarkable performance against Ishmael Davis, edging a majority decision – which, in truth, offered a poor reflection of their largely one-sided encounter – to squeak past the late replacement.
In any case, though, Kelly could soon find himself gearing up for the most formidable assignment of his career, or at least his toughest test since a sixth-round stoppage defeat to David Avanesyan back in 2021.
Sure enough, Murtazaliev solidified his fearsome reputation as a dynamite puncher last year, claiming his IBF strap with a ruthless 11th-round finish over Jack Culcay.
Several months later, the 32-year-old then delivered a far more destructive display against Tim Tszyu, flooring his opponent multiple times before halting proceedings in the third frame.
With very few names at 154lbs putting their hands up for a possible clash with Murtazaliev, however, it would seem that Kelly has, in turn, shoehorned himself into the mix for a world title shot.
“Josh has got to kick down that door,” Booth said on Sky Sports’ Ringside Toe2Toe Boxing Podcast.
“I’ve had a couple of conversations now with Kathy Duva [Murtazaliev’s promoter] about the possibility of making the IBF [title] fight with Bakhram Murtazaliev. Those conversations are ongoing.
“I’m hopeful, and determined as I can, to make him [Kelly] the biggest fights.”
