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It is a huge opportunity for Sunderland’s former Team GB Olympian, as he attempts to upset and inflict a first career defeat on the hard-hitting Russian who currently holds the IBF super-welterweight title.
He outpointed Ishmael Davis – a late replacement for Liam Smith – on the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois undercard at Wembley Stadium in September 2024 and then followed that up with a first-round demolition of Romanian Flavius Biea last summer, afterwards challenging the likes of Conor Benn.
He now faces a tough test against Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs), the long-time mandatory challenger for the IBF super-welterweight crown who spent 16 months out of the ring before a late stoppage of veteran Jack Culcay in Germany in April 2024 saw him finally claim the belt previously held by ex-undisputed king Jermell Charlo.
Murtazaliev had previously stepped aside to allow Charlo to complete the full set of titles against Brian Castano, before Charlo was stripped after stepping up to super-middleweight to unsuccessfully challenge the great Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
His first defence came against Tim Tszyu, who was shockingly floored four times and stopped in the third round in a comprehensive upset in Orlando in October 2024.
Belfast’s Caoimhin Agyarko will hope to become the No1 challenger to the winner of Murtazaliev vs Kelly as he battles Brandon Adams in a final eliminator in California in April.
Murtazaliev vs Kelly fight date and venue
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly takes place tonight, Saturday, January 31, 2026 at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Murtazaliev vs Kelly fight time and ring walks
The main undercard begins at 7pm GMT, which is 2pm ET and 11am PT in the United States.
Ring walks for Murtazaliev vs Kelly have been pencilled in for 9:26pm GMT, 4:26pm ET and 1:26pm PT. Exact timings are subject to change.
How to watch Murtazaliev vs Kelly
TV channel and live stream: The event is being broadcast live to subscribers worldwide through DAZN, not via its pay-per-view service.
Murtazaliev vs Kelly undercard
Saturday night’s co-main event sees Doncaster’s Josh Padley face Frenchman Jaouad Belmehdi for the vacant European super-featherweight title, while Turkey’s IBF lightweight champion Elif Nur Turhan defends her belt for the first time against Australian Taylah Gentzen and the Northern Area lightweight strap is up for grabs when Josh Blenkiron and Robbie Colman collide.
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly
Josh Padley vs Jaouad Belmehdi
Josh Blenkiron vs Robbie Colman
Elif Nur Turhan vs Taylah Gentzen
Leo Atang vs Amine Boucetta
Brad Casey vs Lee Roberts
Kiaran MacDonald vs Marius Vysniauskas
Murtazaliev vs Kelly prediction
Kelly will be full of confidence after his impressive career renaissance post-Avanesyan defeat and a first world title tilt is certainly just reward for all his hard rebuilding work over recent years.
However, this is a really daunting test against Murtazaliev, a big puncher who has 17 knockouts in 23 professional career wins to date and utterly embarrassed a former world champion in Tszyu last time out.
We expect Kelly to give a good account of himself in the first half of the fight before being eventually slowed, ground down and stopped by the champion late on.
Murtazaliev to win by late stoppage.
Murtazaliev vs Kelly weigh-in results
Both fighters successfully made weight on Friday, with Murtazaliev coming in at 152.2lbs as Kelly tipped the scales at 153.65lbs.
Murtazaliev vs Kelly latest odds
Murtazaliev to win by decision: 4/1
Murtazaliev to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 8/11
Kelly to win by decision: 7/2
Kelly to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 10/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
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