Josh Kelly’s promoter, Kalle Sauerland, is excited about the IBF ordering the fight between Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) and junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs). Sauerland says he’s in talks with Murtazaliev’s management now, and about “how and where it could take place.”
Kelly’s Long-Awaited Title Shot
Kalle is confident that he will dethrone IBF champion Murtazaliev. He’s thankful that Kelly is finally getting a title shot after eight years in the pro ranks.
The IBF Orders the Fight
“It’s finally ordered. The IBF has ordered it. So, we’re in positive discussions with the other side. There are a few options of how and where it could take place,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland to Boxing News, talking about the fight being ordered for IBF 154-lb champion Bakhram Murtazaliev to defend against #3 Josh Kelly.
Sauerland didn’t provide any hints of where he wants to stage the Murtazaliev vs. Kelly fight. It might not matter. Murtzaliev has already shown that he can win on the road in his last seven fights. He hasn’t fought at home in Russia since his clash with Bruno Leonardo Romay on April 18, 2019.
Josh’s Moment to Seize
“Finally, Kelly’s moment to seize the stage. I want to see him with the belt around his waist. I’d love for him to become a world champion,” said Sauerland. “I fully believe he can do it. Murtazaliev is a tough Russian. If you look at his record, he travels well. He went to Germany and got the results against Jack Culcay. This guy is as tough as they come. It’s not an easy fight.”
It’s a tall order for Kelly to triumph against Murtazaliev, but he has the technical skills to win. Kelly will have to avoid exchanges with Bakhram for him to have a chance of winning. The Russian fighter’s last opponent, Tim Tszyu, chose to go straight into the teeth of his offense, and he was destroyed by a third-round technical knockout on October 19, 2024.
The 2016 Olympian Kelly has won his last seven fights since losing to David Avanesyan by a sixth-round technical knockout on February 20, 2021.
Kelly’s Questionable Opposition
Josh’s opposition in his last seven fights hasn’t been of a high level. That’s one of the criticisms fans have of him. Many of them believe that Kelly, 31, has been maneuvered to his high ranking with the IBF by the matchmaking done by his promoters. I could be a massive jolt to Kelly’s system to take on the big-punching Murtazaliev after the last seven opponents Josh has fought.
Kelly’s Last Seven Opponents
– Flavius Biea
– Ishmael Davis
– Placido Ramirez
– Gabriel Alberto Corzo
– Troy Williamson
– Lucas Brian Ariel Bastida
– Peter Kramer
“Josh has agreed to the Jaron ‘Boots’ fight. That didn’t happen. Forty-eight hours later, we get the call from the IBF that we’re the mandatory. Everything for a reason,” said Sauerland.
The IBF chose Kelly as the new mandatory after Erickson Lubin decided to accept an offer to challenge Vergil Ortiz Jr. for his WBC interim junior middleweight title on November 8, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Before that move, the IBF had ordered #1-ranked Lubin and Murtazaliev to begin negotiations on July 21, 2025. After Erickson chose to face Ortiz Jr, the Kelly became the next IBF mandatory, as he was the highest-ranked contender in the 154 rankings with the sanctioning body.
Last Updated on 08/30/2025
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