“JOSH KELLY knew the world title was coming home with him the moment he turned on his hotel SHOWER. Kelly became Britain’s newest world champion after heroically dethroning Bakhram Murtazaliev of the IBF super-welterweight title in Newcastle. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Josh Kelly beat Bakhram Murtazaliev to win the IBF super-welterweight”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
Kelly became Britain’s newest world champion after heroically dethroning Bakhram Murtazaliev of the IBF super-welterweight title in Newcastle.
Thank you!
Josh Kelly beat Bakhram Murtazaliev to win the IBF super-welterweight titleCredit: PA The 2016 Olympian had Murtazaliev, 33, down and had to pick himself up from the canvas too in the 12 dramatic but thrilling rounds.
Kelly, 31, stunned the frightening Russian to claim the gold but he almost expected to following a “spooky” run up to the bout.
He said: “When we first checked into the hotel room, I had a steam shower and a bath and I asked my girlfriend to turn them both on to make sure the water was hot enough.
“She said to me, ‘Why have you drawn Olympic rings on the shower?’. I hadn’t done anything but I went down to look and it was as if the Olympic rings had been perfectly drawn on the shower.
“That was weird; and my record is 18-1-1 now and I saw loads of numbers adding up to that.
“Then we got picked up in a van to go to the Sunderland training ground and it had PYT (Pretty Young Thing) on the back of the reg.
“And outside my hotel there was another car parked there constantly – an Aston Martin with the registration NEW.
“It started getting spooky in the end and I just hoped it was a good thing!”
There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!
Tyson Fury will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, Conor Benn is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder, while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of Moses Itauma, Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
February
- Sat 7 – Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa – WBA featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 21 – Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 21 – Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – DAZN
- Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN
March
- Sat 14 – Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace – WBA super-featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Sebsastian Fundora vs Keith Furman – Amazon Prime PPV
April
- Sat 4 – Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder – DAZN PPV
- Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix
Kelly had the whole of the North East behind him – even in spite of wearing Sunderland black and white at the Newcastle Arena.
The new 154lb champ already has a deal in place to face American star Jaron Ennis, 28, among other options with a Stadium of Light fight also touted.
Kelly said: “I was surprised at how easy it felt in there sometimes.
“I was calm, cool, collected and I never got greedy, except in the ninth round and I paid the price for it.
“But I showed I’ve got heart, got up late in the fight and continued. He was supposed to be a killer but when I perform at my best and use everything I’ve got I’m a hard night for anyone.
“There are plenty of names who can fill that stadium and make it a crazy night at the Stadium of Light.
“If I have to hang up gloves now I’d be happy but now is the time to get those big fights that will get people talking.”
Kelly knocked down MurtazalievCredit: Getty