Ready to bring more glory to Sunderland.
That is Josh Kelly, who is just one week away from the biggest night of his sporting life when he challenges Bakhram Murtazaliev for the undefeated Russian’s IBF light-middleweight title.
Newcaste will be the venue on Saturday, January 31 for this blockbuster but Sunderland is very much in the heart and the head of the 31-year-old Wearsider.
Kelly has been thrilled by how Sunderland have settled to life in football’s top flight. Having led the Black Cats to promotion, boss Régis Le Bris has established his vibrant side in the Premier League and will go into Saturday’s match at West Ham United ninth in the table.
The gifted boxer, known as ‘Pretty Boy’ told punch-lines that Sunderland AFC’s story has been inspiring and how he has felt the buzz around the entire area.
“I love it when I come home and I’ll walk around with a warm feeling,” said Kelly.
“The city is looking good, and our football club is doing us proud. There is an incredible connection between club and fans.
“The people never stop supporting the club, look at when we were in League One the fans were there in their thousands and now we are back in the Premier League that makes that relationship even more special.
“When I was back home at Christmas, I was walking round town and loads of people were saying ‘I’ve got tickets for your fight’. I can’t wait to see and hear the supporters in the arena.
“After we got promoted my hope this season was that we would stay up in the Premier League.
“But we’ve been brilliant and talking to you now, we are in the top 10 and we’ve been in the European places most of the season.
“It’s crazy, we’re beating all these big teams, and we took points off Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa.
“The football team have given the people great times over the last year and there are good times to come on the 31st.”
The dream of winning the IBF belt is driving on the boxer, who has reeled off seven straight wins since his sole career defeat in February 2021, when he unsuccessfully challenged David Avanesyan for the Armenian-Russian’s European title.
It is 26 years to the day since Billy Hardy put in a tremendous performance at the Crowtree Leisure Centre in his bid to become the IBF world bantamweight champion against Orlando Canizales, with the American squeezing to the tightest of points victories by a split decision.
Hardy got a re-match with the Texan a year later but in his rival’s backyard in Laredo where the champion prevailed in an eighth-round stoppage.
“I want to make history by becoming Sunderland’s first world champion,” said Kelly, whose record is an excellent 17-1-1, with nine of his victories arriving early.
“I know Billy was so close, losing on a split decision, at the Crowtree and then being beaten in the re-match in America.
“It feels as though I’m meant to be fighting for world titles and winning them.”
Kelly though has some task on his hands.
Murtazaliev is very good and hits extremely hard.
The 32-year-old, originally from Grozny and now based in California, has won all 23 of his career bouts, with all but six achieved inside the distance.
Neither of his IBF world title contests have required the judges’ scorecards. He did not have everything his own way just west of Berlin in April 2024, where he seized the vacant belt with an 11th-round KO of German veteran Jack Culcay.
His maiden defence was even more intense in Orlando in October, 2024, when he decked his challenger and pre-fight favourite, Tim Tszyu, three times before the Australian’s corner threw in the towel in round three.
Kelly though is not intimidated for the Matchroom-promoted event at the Utilita Arena.
“There are two good reasons why he won’t beat me,” the Adam Booth-trained talent said in a recent interview with Boxing News. “First, he’s got to try to hit me, and secondly, I’m a tough lad from Sunderland.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
