Josh Kelly has vowed to defy the odds and halt Bakhram Murtazaliev in their eagerly-anticipated world title clash on Saturday.
Kelly challenges for a maiden world title when he faces feared IBF super welterweight titlist, Murtazaliev in Newcastle, live on DAZN.
The Sunderland man is a 5/2 outsider with Bet365 to dethrone the Russian, but the 31-year-old former Olympian says he will make a mockery of the odds by stopping Murtazaliev, who is unbeaten in 23 professional bouts.
“I believe there’ll be a shift, especially in him,” Kelly told Matchroom Boxing.
“In his belief when he starts getting hit.
“He doesn’t know where it’s coming from.
“Different angles he’s never been hit from and there’ll be a shift and you might not see it, but I’ll feel it and when I feel it, that’s when I’ll go on top.
“I believe I’ll stop him.”
The pair came face-to-face for the first time on Tuesday in front of a raucous crowd at a gym in Newcastle.
THE FIRST FACE OFF
Bakhram Murtazaliev & Josh Kelly meet for the first time ahead of Saturday’s IBF World Super Welterweight showdown
Watch live on @DAZNBoxing
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— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 27, 2026
Murtazaliev makes a second defence of his title and fights for the first time since blowing away Tim Tszyu in three rounds in October 2024.
The 33-year-old has 17 wins inside the distance, but despite his fearsome reputation, Kelly insists he is not daunted by the size of the task awaiting him.
“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.
“I believe Tim Tszyu’s a good fighter.
“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.”
