In a pulsating night of boxing at the Newcastle Arena, Josh Kelly etched his name into the annals of boxing history by dethroning Bakhram Murtazaliev to claim the IBF super welterweight title. The bout, a rollercoaster of momentum shifts and dramatic knockdowns, culminated in a majority decision victory for Kelly, with scores of 115-111 and 114-113 overshadowing a lone 113-113 draw.
Kelly, a former amateur prodigy, entered the ring with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove. His journey to this moment had been paved with resilience, bouncing back from a 2021 stoppage loss to David Avanesyan with a string of seven consecutive victories. The stage was set for a clash of titans, and the fighters did not disappoint.
The opening round was a cautious affair, with both fighters feeling each other out. Kelly, however, began to find his range with a crisp jab and a thunderous left hook that sent Murtazaliev reeling. The third round saw both men engage in a fiery exchange, but it was Kelly who made the breakthrough in the fourth. A well-timed counter jab sent Murtazaliev crashing to the canvas, marking the first significant turning point in the fight.
As the rounds progressed, Kelly’s strategy of walking Murtazaliev onto his punches proved effective. Rounds five and six were particularly fruitful for the challenger, as he continued to outbox the champion with precision and poise. Murtazaliev, however, is a seasoned veteran and began to claw his way back into the contest. The seventh round saw the champion gain the upper hand in several exchanges, but Kelly responded in kind, targeting Murtazaliev’s body with combination shots in the eighth.
Just as Kelly seemed to be inching closer to the title, disaster struck in the ninth. A left hook from Murtazaliev sent Kelly crashing to the canvas, and the challenger did well to survive the onslaught and see out the round. The final rounds were a testament to Kelly’s grit and determination. Despite shipping heavy fire and possibly losing rounds ten and eleven, Kelly dug deep and produced a superb closing round, landing a flurry of punches and a left hook that sealed the deal.
The undercard also delivered its share of drama. Elif Nur Turhan made a successful first defense of her IBF lightweight title, edging out Taylah Gentzen in a split decision. The scores of 98-92 and 96-94 in Turhan’s favor ensured she retained her title, despite a dissenting score of 97-93 for Gentzen.
In other action, Josh Padley became the new European super featherweight champion with a second-round stoppage of Jaouad Belmehdi. The vacant Northern Area lightweight title was claimed by Josh Blenkiron, who triumphed on the cards against the previously unbeaten Robbie Coleman. Lee Rogers remained unbeaten in a six-round contest, and Leo Atang continued his ascent in the professional ranks with a victory in a four-round bout.
The night was a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of boxing. Josh Kelly’s victory, in particular, will be remembered as a masterclass in resilience and tactical acumen, a performance that has undoubtedly etched his name into the history books of the sport.
Team_TBE Boxing
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