IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and #3-ranked Josh Kelly have been ordered by the sanctioning body to begin negotiations with a deadline of September 19th before a purse bid is ordered.

IBF Orders Murtazaliev vs Kelly

Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) passed on an offer to face Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in favor of fighting Murtazaliev for his IBF belt. It’s a tough fight for the 2016 Olympian, Kelly, to challenge Murtazaliev because he’s not a power puncher.

The Russia-born Bakhram, 32, has been left alone by the big names, Sebastian Fundora, and Terence Crawford since pulling off a career-best third-round knockout win over Tim Tszyu last year on October 19th. None of the big fights have come Murtazaliev’s way since.

Kelly was stopped in the sixth round by David Avanesyan four years ago at welterweight on February 20, 2021. He’s won his last seven fights since then, but not against any big punchers. Murtazaliev is on another level than Avanesyan power-wise, and more dangerous with either hand.

As Murtazaliev showed in his last fight, knocking out Tszyu, he can hurt his opponents using his left hand. Murtazaliev had injured his primary weapon, his right hand, in training camp, and was forced to rely on his left for the Tszyu fight.

Boxing insider, Fernando Sabatini, broke the news of the IBF ordering the Murtazaliev vs. Kelly negotiations to begin.

Kelly’s Courageous Challenge at 154 lbs

Kelly, 31, is showing much courage by choosing to take this fight with Murtazaliev rather than waiting for a title shot against WBO junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas. That’s a fight that Kelly would potentially have a better chance of winning because Zayas, 22, isn’t a puncher. He’s a pure boxer who moves and holds a lot.

The IBF recently ordered #1-ranked mandatory Erickson Lubin and Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) on July 21st. Lubin decided not to take the fight and go in the direction of a bout against WBC interim 154-lb champion Vergil Ortiz Jr.