Josh Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KO’s) has struck lucky as just weeks after openly declaring interest in fighting IBF super welterweight (154 lbs) champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KO’s), the IBF has opted to order a bout between the two aforementioned fighters after Erickson Lubin (27-2, 19 KO’s) withdrew from an earlier IBF mandate to face Murtazaliev.

Earlier this week, Lubin was confirmed to be fighting Vergil Ortiz Jr. instead.

Lubin was the #1-ranked contender on the IBF’s 154-pound rankings but will now be in line to fight for Ortiz’ (23-0, 21 KO’s) WBC interim title as they are set to compete on November 8 at the Dickies Arena in Forth Worth, Texas. Their 154 lbs bout is slated for a full 12 rounds.

With Lubin out of the picture, Josh Kelly ― ranked as the #3 top super welterweight according to the IBF, will now be seeking for an opportunity to become a world champion for the first time of his career. The deadline for the negotiations between Kelly and Murtazaliev’s teams has been set until September 19, after which a purse bid ceremony will determine who will promote their fight.

Kelly’s expressed interest in facing Murtazaliev came off the back of failed negotiations with Jaron Ennis (34-0, 30 KO’s) who had been attempting to face him in his 154 lbs debut.

Despite already sporting a loss to former world title challenger David Avanesyan (31-5-1, 19 KO’s) during their welterweight (147 lbs) contest in 2021 ― which led to the British fighter moving up a weight class, Kelly has emerged as a frontrunner candidate for a title at 154 pounds after maintaining a seven-win streak in the division.

Murtazaliev has been kept in a state of limbo following a successful title defense over Tim Tszyu in October of last year, and has seemingly struggled to fight willing opponents until the IBF’s most recent sling of mandates to fight Lubin and Kelly.