EXCLUSIVE | Bakhram Murtazaliev’s second protection of the IBF tremendous welterweight title heads to the UK in 2025, with prime contender Josh Kelly locked in talks to safe the shot.
The IBF ordered Murtazaliev to place his belt on the road towards Kelly following victories over Jack Culcay and Tim Tszyu in 2024.
Talking completely to WBN, promoter Kathy Duva confirmed that superior discussions are ongoing with Kelly’s mentor, Adam Sales space, as either side push to finalize the phrases.
“I’m in contact with Adam Sales space just about each day,” Duva informed World Boxing Information completely. “We’re working diligently to get a deal executed.”
UK staging on the desk
On a venue for the conflict, Duva admitted taking the occasion throughout the Atlantic to Kelly’s homeland makes essentially the most sense.
“It’s apparent that the UK is the logical place to start out wanting. The developments to date are promising, however I’ve realized that speaking about negotiations is normally one of the best ways to derail them.
“So, I can’t get into any extra element at the moment, besides to say that it’s going to be a terrific combat!”
Murtazaliev, who claimed the IBF crown 16 months in the past, had his breakout second towards Tszyu and is now a serious participant within the 154-pound division.
Nonetheless deciding on whether or not to field your head off or …..field your head off, couple of laborious decisions there lad 👀🥴 https://t.co/iz2QhFOo2E
— Josh Kelly 🥊 (@JOSHPBK) August 28, 2025
Kelly’s probability
For Kelly, the Sunderland man has strung collectively spectacular victories since a draw with Ray Robinson in 2019 and his lone loss to David Avanesyan two years later.
That momentum makes Kelly a viable world title challenger, who’s on target to achieve residence benefit if talks conclude amicably.
Duva’s admission that the UK is the frontrunner provides vital weight to Kelly’s possibilities of securing the title. Nonetheless, ‘Fairly Boy’ will start a large underdog towards the harmful Murtazaliev, who’s closing in on the proper platform to showcase his abilities to a recent viewers.
Though Duva burdened the significance of discretion throughout ongoing negotiations, the Principal Occasions chief was clear that common communication signifies progress.
Either side are aligned on the combat’s potential, with solely the finer particulars of staging holding again an official announcement.
For Murtazaliev, defending the IBF belt on international soil would mark one other street journey. For Kelly, it represents the prospect to attain a lifelong ambition on residence turf.
With UK followers starved of elite-level world title fights within the tremendous welterweight division, a Murtazaliev vs Kelly showdown may present one of many standout occasions of the yr.
Concerning the Creator
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of expertise overlaying the worldwide combat scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing Information since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s greatest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and be taught extra about his work in fight sports activities journalism.
