New champion alert: Josh Kelly edges Bakhram Murtazaliev in UK

Source: DAZN

01/02/2026

New champion alert: Josh Kelly edges Bakhram Murtazaliev in UK

Josh Kelly W12 Bakhram Murtazaliev... Josh Kelly is the new IBF junior middleweight champion following hometown slpit-decision win over Bakhram Murtazaliev in Newcastle, England.  Kelly made an excellent start and even dropped his opponent, but that was almost undone when he was floored in round nine before absorbing a tough finish in the championship rounds.  Despite Murtazaliev’s efforts in the closing stages, Kelly clung on to win on the scorecards via majority decision with the scores reading 115-111 and 114-113 in favor of Kelly against a card of 113-113.  Kelly’s win now makes him Britain’s latest world champion, and he will be keen to land another huge fight against the likes of Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz.