Britain’s Josh Kelly outclassed Bakram Murtazaliev to win the IBF light middleweight title in Newcastle.
The Sunderland fighter was knocked down by Russia’s Murtazaliev in the ninth round and stumbled twice more in the closing stages before the referee ruled it a slip.
Kelly, who dispatched his opponent in four rounds, was victorious with one judge scoring the fight 115-111 in his favor, another scoring it 114-113 and a third calling it a draw 113-113.
Kelly came out on top with two of the judges’ three scores, with the third being ruled a draw.
The 31-year-old was Sunderland’s first world champion and told BBC Radio 5 Live afterwards: “It’s like a dream. I was imagining this.
“I had to concentrate. I was overwhelmed. I had to go backstage again to calm myself down. I was mentally exhausted.”
Since his first professional loss to David Avanesyan in February 2021, Kelly has won eight straight fights, bringing the number of reigning British men’s world champions to six.
Kelly holds the gold medal alongside compatriot Fabio Wardley (heavyweight), Lewis Crocker (welterweight), Jazza Dickens (super featherweight), Nick Ball (featherweight) and Dalton Smith (super lightweight).
‘Pretty Boy’, coached by Adam Booth, slammed Murtazaliev to the mat with a brutal left hand in the fourth round, then winked at his rival as he stood up.
Knockout specialist Murtazaliev, suffering his first loss in 23 fights, used his own vicious left hand to knock Kelly down in the ninth round, but was outmaneuvered by the home boxer.
