Josh Kelly has warned Bakhram Murtazaliev that his style will play into his hands when they meet in a world title clash in Newcastle next Saturday.
Kelly faces IBF super welterweight world champion, Murtazaliev at the Utilita Arena, live on DAZN.
The Brit is a significant underdog with the bookmakers to defeat the unbeaten Russian, but ‘Pretty Boy’ feels his rival’s aggressive style will be his downfall.
“All the pressure’s on him,” the 31-year-old said to talkSPORT.
“He’s coming over to me.
“He’s the world champion.
“I don’t feel as though there’s any pressure on me and I feel like I’m going to go out there and perform.
“His style suits my style.
“Everyone wants to come and try and knock me out and try to put hands on me.
“The faster he comes, the harder he tries to punch, it becomes more predictable.
“The more it sits into my rhythm and timing.”
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Kelly, who will become Britain’s sixth active male world champion with victory, has won seven on the bounce since his only professional defeat to David Avanesyan in a bid for the European welterweight title in February 2021.
Murtazaliev, 33, who makes a second defence of his crown against the Sunderland man, floored Tim Tszyu three times in a third round demolition in his most recent outing in October 2024.
Kelly insists he has a far superior skillset to Tszyu and vows not to make the same errors he believes cost the Australian.
“I believe Tim Tszyu’s a good fighter,” he added.
“But he hasn’t got the skillset I’ve got in terms of movement, skill, ability and IQ in the ring when I’m on form.
“Tim Tszyu went in there and had a shootout with him.
“He made the stupid mistake Tim Tszyu of going to the body early.”
