How to watch Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly – Full fight details
Sunderland star Josh Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) gets the world title shot he is been dreaming of in his home county of Tyne and Wear against the formidable IBF world super-welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs).
All the details you need to know can be found below.
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Venue: Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Start Time: 6pm BST
Main Event: 10pm BST
TV Channel: DAZN
Running Order
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly
12×3 IBF world super-welterweight title
Undercard to be announced shortly
Fight Preview
Josh Kelly finally gets his shot at the big time.
After a topsy-turvy career of setbacks, fights falling through, being widely avoided, the “Pretty Boy” now faces fearsome, unbeaten IBF super-welterweight champion, Bakhram Murtazaliev.
This is a monumental step-up in class for former British champion, whose best win probably remains at domestic level against Troy Williamson back in 2023, which gave his arguably underwhelming pro career a desperately needed shot in the arm, after coming unravelled, outclassed and stopped in six rounds in his one step up to fringe world level against ex-WBA champ David Avanesyan in 2021.
A few months after the Williamson fight, following a shutout of an unheralded Argentinian Gabriel Corzo, at the age of 29, this was the time for Josh Kelly to bite the bullet and really start to prove himself against world level names. Through no fault of his own, it must be said that since this point the Sunderland slickster’s career has stagnated somewhat.
Calls for big fights with the likes of Connor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr have predictably fallen on deaf ears, given the perceived risk and lack of reward that bigger names will associate him with.
A huge opportunity to announce himself on world level against Liam Smith unfortunately fell through at the last minute, meaning in the last two years he has had nothing more than three tick-over fights against subpar opposition, keeping the once bullet speed hype train trudging along at a horse carriage pace.
Now aged 31, presented with the opportunity he has been yearning for, it has to be high-time for Josh Kelly to show the world what he is made of.
He has been calling for a chance to prove himself for years and now he gets that opportunity against the 6ft tall, devastatingly powerful and rangy IBF Champion, Bakhram Murtazaliev.
The Russian monster is coming off a three-round obliteration of former 154lb world champion Tim Tszyu, but that was dated back in October 2024, 15 months ago now.
Whilst the Tszyu beatdown was undeniably impressive, the short duration of the bout didn’t really give much of an indication as to the true ability of the heavy-handed and deceptively clever champion.
In his fight before however, an absolute barnstormer against the teak-tough German Jack Culcay, there were clear flaws in the Russian’s game that Kelly and mastermind trainer Adam Booth will feel they can exploit. The relentlessly aggressive 38-year-old Culcay marched Murtazaliev down all night, landing huge shots at will in an epic back and forth encounter, ending with the brave former Olympian Culcay coming unstuck in the 11th round.
If an aging and battle-hardened Culcay can clip the younger Murtazaliev as often as he did, then the slick stylist, Kelly, will certainly feel that his sharp counters, varied repertoire and lightning-fast pot shots will be able to find their home.
There is no question that Murtazaliev is a huge favourite heading into this bout, and rightly so, yet claims of a mismatch are a little unfair.
Up at 154lbs, Kelly looks a far stronger and confident fighter, holding his feet and sitting down on his shots, even getting two one-punch knockouts in his last three run outs. It is also worth noting that Murtazaliev’s two biggest wins have both come against more pedestrian, shorter, come-forward, open fighters, so it remains to be seen how he fairs against a more elusive, counter-punching opponent. Fight-week research of this kind often runs alongside other sport, and our greyhound betting guide sets out the options for anyone who follows the dogs as well.
Josh has been asking for this opportunity, so nothing short of a win or the closest of margins will be honourable.
With his style, speed, newfound pop and relative freshness, this is an intriguing clash of styles. He would have to rise to the occasion and box out of his skin for all 12 rounds, which is a hard ask against such a big puncher, but just maybe, ‘PBK’ might be capable of causing a shock.
Betting Odds
3/10 Murtazaliev
10/3 Kelly
16/1 Draw
Prediction
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: Kelly to get off to a bright start, but a bigger, stronger Murtazaliev to come back gradually and wear the Brit down with more and more bruising shots hitting home, slowing the stylist down. Murtazaliev to win by late KO.