A surprising development has occurred in the boxing world as Matchroom has reportedly stepped up to promote a title match between Russian IBF super welterweight (154 lbs) champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KO’s) and British mandatory challenger Josh Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KO’s).
The fight had been ordered in late August but an agreement had not been reached, leading to the arrangement of a now-cancelled purse bid ceremony that ha dbeen arranged for today [ October 28th].
According to boxing journalist Dan Rafael, the purse bid was cancelled after Matchroom managed to secure the rights to promote a fight between the two fighters:
“BREAKING: Per source, on Monday night deal was made for fight between IBF 154 titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev & mandatory challenger Josh Kelly & Tuesday’s purse bid is canceled,” Rafael reported on Twitter/X.
“Fight supposed to be Jan. 31 at site TBA in England. Matchroom Boxing will promote the fight.“
Rafael further revealed the fight could take place on either January 24 or 31 due to the agreed terms for the bout.
Unsure is how Matchroom managed to put itself in the position to promote the fight but close ties to Wasserman Boxing ― who promotes Kelly ― chairman Kalle Sauerland suggests a sort of co-promotional deal has been struck between the two promoters. The two promotions have a history of collaborating together for shows and were most infamously involved in the cancelled October 2022 bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn.
With Murtazaliev’s own promoter, Main Events, carrying little name recognition in the boxing world, Matchroom’s global influence and exclusive partnership with global streaming service DAZN might have convinced both parties a profitable arrangement could be reached.
Kelly, 31, had previously already stated his desire to face Murtazaliev and will be heading into his first-ever world title fight since first debuting as a professional in 2017.
Murtazaliev, 32, has struggled to find an opponent following the completion of his first title defense against IBF-mandated opponent Tim Tszyu. Despite having roughly a year to face a voluntary opponent after, suitable candidates failed to emerge leading to the IBF’s eventual order of the Murtazaliev-Kelly bout this past August.
