“Josh Kelly wrote his name in the history books with a stunning world title win in Newcastle. The Sunderland scrapper, 31, defeated Bakhram Murtazaliev via majority decision 113-113, 115-111, 114-111 – and burst into tears as the result was read out. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Josh Kelly became Britain’s newest world”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
The Sunderland scrapper, 31, defeated Bakhram Murtazaliev via majority decision 113-113, 115-111, 114-111 – and burst into tears as the result was read out.
Thank you!
Josh Kelly became Britain’s newest world champ with a brilliant winCredit: PA
Josh Kelly earned a narrow and now wants to fight at the Stadium of LightCredit: PA Kelly crafted a gameplan with trainer Adam Booth and found a way to nullify the hard-hitting Russian.
The win made him the sixth current British world champion and the second new champion from the UK in January.
He knocked Murtazaliev early but the fight got close and he was then knocked down himself in the ninth.
After his stunning victory, Kelly said: “I’m a kid from the North-East.
“Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough – big yourselves up tonight.
“You’ve been f***ing unbelievable. If it wasn’t for this crowd, I wouldn’t have got up [after the knockdown].”
The atmosphere inside the Ultilita Arena in Newcastle was nothing short of electric, even with half a dozen Sunderland players in attendance.
The North East had united to watch Kelly go for glory.
The Sunderland star was brilliant against Bakhram MurtazalievCredit: PA
Kelly scored a knockdown and was knocked down himselfCredit: PA “Josh Kelly, he’s one of our own,” rang out as the pair sized each other up in the first round with a predictable amount of respect and trepidation.
An exchange inside the last 10 seconds of the first round saw Kelly land the first thudding blow of the fight with a sweeping right hook.
It sounded like a shotgun was snuck into the arena.
Seconds later, as the bell rang, Kelly stared down his foe to let him know he was in a fight.
An early uppercut in the second round gave Kelly a swift reminder of Murtazaliev’s power that has demolished 23 fighters before him.
Kelly saved his best for the final 10 seconds once again landing a clean right hook, but Murtazaliev repaid the favour immediately.
The fight exploded in the fourth round when Murtazaliev overreached on a right overhand and he was met by Kelly’ stiff left jab resulting in a stunning knockdown for the challenger.
‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly did not rush in looking for the finish, though. Instead he reset himself and carried on with the gameplan to the disbelief of those in the arena.
Heavy swelling began to form on Murtazaliev’s right eye as the Sunderland-born star kept on going back to the proverbial well with great success.
But the champion was holding the centre of the ring and Kelly constantly found himself under pressure scaling the ropes.
There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!
Tyson Fury will to 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.
Up first we have a massive fight with Stateside superstars Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez meeting later this month in Madison Square Garden.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
January
- Sat 31 – Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson – WBO super-lightweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 31 – Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly – IBF super-welterweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Francesca Hennessy vs Ellie Bouttell – BBC2
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
PBK found time to showboat in the seventh as the Russian kept on hunting for him around the ring.
Still, it was clear the champion was refusing to go away.
In the ninth round, one of the Murtazaliev’s cannon right hands finally found their target.
Too much time on the ropes lead to the former Olympian hitting the deck and facing the ref’s count for the first time.
In the dying embers of the round, Kelly was put down again under severe pressure from the unbeaten champion, but the referee did not administer a count to the relief of the worried support.
A rip-roaring five-punch Kelly salvo in the 12th gave fans hope that the local hero might pull a finish out of the bag, but he had done enough to get his job done regardless.
Kelly signed off by asking “Who wants a stadium fight next?”
The Sunderland fan is hoping for a big one at the Stadium of Light.