Sunderland's Josh Kelly has achieved the unthinkable, claiming the IBF light-middleweight title after overcoming incredible odds. The 31-year-old Briton outpointed Russian contender Bakhram Murtazaliev in Newcastle, despite being knocked down twice and suffering a brutal fourth-round send-off.
Kelly's resurgence was nothing short of remarkable, as he bounced back from the third-round collapse to secure victory on two of the three judges' scorecards. The Sunderland fighter's win marked a stunning turnaround after a series of impressive victories since his first professional defeat in February 2021.
Murtazaliev, known for his devastating punching power, had Kelly reeling with a vicious left hand in the fourth round and sent him crashing to the mat. However, it was not meant to be for the Russian, as Kelly demonstrated remarkable grit and resilience to mount an epic comeback. The decisive moment came late on when Murtazaliev unleashed a venomous left hand that knocked Kelly's head off his feet once more, but this time the referee ruled it a slip.
Kelly's victory sent shockwaves through the boxing world, solidifying his status as one of Britain's top prospects. With a total of eight straight wins since his first professional defeat, he joins an elite group of British boxers who have held gold worldwide.
"It feels like a dream," Kelly said in the post-fight interview, visibly shaken by the ordeal. "I envisioned this." The win marked Sunderland's first world championship title, and Kelly will undoubtedly be celebrated as a hometown hero for years to come.
Kelly's resurgence was nothing short of remarkable, as he bounced back from the third-round collapse to secure victory on two of the three judges' scorecards. The Sunderland fighter's win marked a stunning turnaround after a series of impressive victories since his first professional defeat in February 2021.
Murtazaliev, known for his devastating punching power, had Kelly reeling with a vicious left hand in the fourth round and sent him crashing to the mat. However, it was not meant to be for the Russian, as Kelly demonstrated remarkable grit and resilience to mount an epic comeback. The decisive moment came late on when Murtazaliev unleashed a venomous left hand that knocked Kelly's head off his feet once more, but this time the referee ruled it a slip.
Kelly's victory sent shockwaves through the boxing world, solidifying his status as one of Britain's top prospects. With a total of eight straight wins since his first professional defeat, he joins an elite group of British boxers who have held gold worldwide.
"It feels like a dream," Kelly said in the post-fight interview, visibly shaken by the ordeal. "I envisioned this." The win marked Sunderland's first world championship title, and Kelly will undoubtedly be celebrated as a hometown hero for years to come.
. On one hand, the guy is a total legend, comin' back from gettin' knocked down twice like that and still managin' to take down Murtazaliev with them last-second wins 
. But on the other hand, can't we just admit that boxing's got some pretty wild inconsistencies 
? I mean, did he really need to get slammed around in the 4th round before comin' back like that? And what's up with Murtazaliev not bein' disqualified after that one last hit that sent Kelly flyin' across the ring? 
. And don't even get me started on the judging – I mean, two out of three judges' scorecards? That's not a fair reflection of who won that fight if you ask me 
.
I mean, the guy gets knocked down TWICE and comes back to take that win? Insane! 
And can we talk about Murtazaliev's punching power for a sec? 
He deserved every second of that victory, and I'm beyond hyped for him to take on the world 
Bring it on, Josh! 
The Sunderland crowd must be going wild right now, it's amazing to see a hometown hero bring home the gold 
️
The way he just got up, dusted himself off, and kept on going is like something out of Rocky IV - "It feels like a dream" indeed! Kelly's the real deal now, and Sunderland should be super proud to have him as their own 
. This win cements his status as one of Britain's top boxers, and I'm loving every minute of it 
. I mean, sure he won, but it was basically a fluke. Murtazaliev got him good in that fourth round and Kelly somehow managed to sneak out of there with a win? Not buying it 
Kelly's win is a testament to his hard work and dedication - now we're talking about the best prospects in Britain! 
that 4th round was like a movie! murtazaliev was dominating kelly but the guy from sunderland refused to give up 
and what's even more amazing is how he bounced back from getting knocked down twice 
️ I'm utterly fascinated by Josh Kelly's perseverance in the face of adversity 
Kelly's achievement is a shining example of what can be accomplished through hard work, resilience, and a never-say-die attitude 
. And let's be real, getting knocked down twice isn't exactly a testament to his invincibility 
or something! The crowd must have been going wild, I can only imagine 
. He deserves all the praise and celebration in the world 
!