Josh Kelly set to take huge risk against Bakhram Murtazaliev as IBF kicks off negotiations

Josh Kelly is now inches away from world honours

British star Josh Kelly has been given the opportunity to rise to world glory as the IBF has mandated negotiations with Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) for the IBF junior middleweight title.

The pair have been given until September 19 to reach an agreement before a purse bid is called for the IBF title matchup.

The former Olympian has only one loss on his record - to David Avanesyan via 6th-round TKO in February 2021. However, he has since moved from strength to strength, racking up seven straight wins and catapulting himself to third in the IBF rankings.

The Brit boxer is hot property at the moment, having recently turned down an offer to take on Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, to instead chase the IBF strap.

Should the fight go ahead, Murtazaliev will be by far the most dangerous opponent Kelly has faced off against. 

The 31-year-old doesn’t have much experience with heavy hitters, and given his previous loss to Avanesyan, who still doesn't pack the same punch as the IBF holder, the fight appears a huge risk from the Kelly camp.

Who is Bakhram Murtazaliev?

The current IBF world champion will be no walkover for the in-form Brit. Murtazaliev has racked up an impressive undefeated record, with 17 of his 23 wins coming by stoppage. 

He will be one of the hardest punchers Kelly has ever shared the ring with, being feared in the middle divisions after a stunning win over Tim Tszyu in 2024.

Heading into the fight, the Russian had injured his primary weapon and had to rely solely on his left hand to find the final blow - which he managed to do in style.

Tszyu found himself on the canvas four times before the towel was thrown in in just the third round. 

This power has earned him a reputation in the boxing world, with many of the sport's biggest names steering clear of the IBF title to protect their records. 

It’s certainly a gamble from Kelly, especially given he could have instead chased a WBO title shot against the much less dangerous Xander Zayas.