Newcastle, UK (January 27th, 2026)– Bakhram Murtazaliev, 33, (23-0, 17 Kos) vs Josh Kelly, 31, (17-1-1, 9 Kos) will take place on Saturday, 31 January at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.
Murtazaliev, an undefeated Russian pressure fighter, is known for his strength, chin, and relentless forward movement that wears opponents down. He has not fought since his third-round TKO win over Tim Tszyu in October 2024, raising potential questions about ring rust.
Kelly, a former Olympian, is seen as the more technically skilled boxer with superior speed and footwork. He has won seven fights in a row since his only professional defeat in 2021.
For Kelly to win, he must use his jab and movement to avoid getting drawn into a close-range brawl, a mistake that cost him in his only loss.
The consensus among boxing analysts is that Kelly has the skills to win early rounds, but Murtazaliev’s persistence and power may prove too much in the later rounds, with a potential stoppage victory for the champion predicted.
The main card is due to begin at 7 pm GMT (11 am PT / 1 pm CT / 2 pm ET), with main-event ring walks expected at 9.30 pm GMT (1.30 pm PT / 3.30 pm CT / 4.30 pm ET).
The event will stream live exclusively on DAZN in the UK and worldwide. It will be available to all subscribers, meaning there is no additional pay-per-view cost. You can purchase a DAZN subscription here, with plans starting at £15.99 per month.
The full fight card is expected to include the following bouts:
Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0) vs. Josh Kelly (17-1-1) – IBF World Super Welterweight Title (Main Event)
Josh Padley (17-1) vs. Jaouad Belmehdi (23-2-3) – EBU European Super Featherweight Title
Josh Blenkiron (7-0-1) vs. Robbie Colman (7-0)
Elif Nur Turhan (12-0) vs. Taylah Gentzen (8-1) – IBF World Female Lightweight Title
Leo Atang (3-0) vs. Amine Boucetta (9-17)
Josh Kelly vs. Bakhram Murtazaliev Betting Odds:
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly odds - ProBoxingOdds" height="91" />
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