JOSH KELLY is inching closer towards his world title shot against Bakhram Murtazaliev, with promoter Nisse Sauerland confident in securing the challenger a home advantage.
A window of opportunity emerged for Kelly, 17-1-1 (9 KOs), shortly after it was announced that Erickson Lubin, the previous IBF mandatory challenger, would face Vergil Ortiz Jr on November 8 in Fort Worth, Texas.
The former world title challenger had been in talks to take on Murtazaliev, 23-0 (17 KOs), the formidable IBF champion at 154lbs, only to then be enticed by a more lucrative offer elsewhere.
So instead, number-three ranked contender Kelly has provided an alternative option for the hard-hitting Russian, who remains set to make a mandatory defence of his red and gold strap later this year.
Murtazaliev claimed the vacant IBF title with an 11th-round finish over Jack Culcay last year, before delivering a punishing three-round beatdown against Tim Tszyu several months later.
But since his ruthless victory last October, the 32-year-old has, perhaps unsurprisingly, not exactly been successful at convincing his super-welterweight rivals to step into the ring with him.
Unlike his counterparts, though, Kelly at least appears eager to test himself against a champion who many deem to be the division’s ‘boogeyman’.
The 31-year-old comes off a one-round blowout against Flavius Biea in June, which followed his majority decision victory over Ishmael Davis, a short-notice replacement, last year.
But now, Kelly seems to be on the verge of securing a far more meaningful assignment, quite possibly even on home soil.
His promoter, Sauerland, remains confident in delivering that much, while also insisting that talks with Kathy Duva, who represents Murtazaliev, are still ongoing.
“I would say that it’s almost certainly going to land in the UK,” Sauerland told Boxing News.
“Negotiations, as you know, are often difficult, but we should have some news coming soon. No one’s hung up the phone, saying they want a purse bid, so negotiations are moving along.
“But, on the other hand, the deal’s not done yet. And unless Saudi [Turki Alalshikh] comes in with a mad offer, which would always be nice, we’re planning for it to be in the UK.”
