Josh Kelly: Champion of the world.
Six magical words for Sunderland and the man who has put the proud city on the sporting map.
Kelly produced an exceptional performance to dethrone Bakhram Murtazaliev as the IBF Light-middleweight champion on a majority points decision in Newcastle.
It was tight on the scorecards and incredibly dramatic as MC David Diamante delivered the verdict.
Polish judge Pawel Kardyni could not separate the warriors at 113—113 and then came US official John Basile’s score of 115-111 which left it down to the marks of Lancashire’s Steve Grey.
His 114-113 was followed by Diamante belting out the words “and the new”, sparking scenes of delirium in the square ring and outside it as the Utilita Arena exploded into noise.
For what it’s worth, your punch-lines writer was on the same page as Mr Basile score-wise but, ultimately, the right man got the belt fastened around his waist.
The 31-year-old deserved his glory – he put down one of the most feared fighters in the world in round four and then climbed off the canvas himself in the ninth after feeling the power of the California-based Russian.
Kelly refused to crumple and emerged victorious almost 26 years to the day that Wearside legend Billy Hardy came so close to beating Orlando Canizales in Sunderland.
“History has been made tonight, the first world champion from Sunderland, ” said a triumphant ‘Pretty Boy’, who praised the fans for their contribution.
“If it wasn’t for this crowd and their energy behind me, I wouldn’t have got up and carried on.”
The crowd certainly played their part with chants of “red and white army” and “he’s one of our own” in the early stages .
Kelly needed to deliver a perfect performance if he was to defeat an unbeaten monster, who had stopped 17 of his 23 victims going into this Matchroom event.
And the Adam Booth boxer did just that in a fascinating contest.
This was no Hagler v Hearns, this was a match between artist and assassin as Kelly’s movement avoided the defending champion’s artillery while landing flashy scoring blows.
Murtazaliev’s tap of the glove at the conclusion of round two demonstrated respect and that respect grew in the fourth when a Kelly left forced Bakhram to touch down.
He was up quickly and with a smile, but by the half-way mark he surely knew he was trailing on the scorecards.
Murtazaliev began prowling forward with increased menace from round seven and a big left caught Kelly on neck and shoulder rather than his head, but it was a warning shot.
The Russian did put Kelly down in the eighth with a short, thumping left, but the challenger rose, only to go down again late in the round to a right to the head, though referee Michael Alexander did not rule it as a knockdown.
Could Kelly handle the pressure?
The answer was an emphatic yes, though he was forced to take a powerful right in the last which drove him into the ropes.
Murtazaliev was going for it big time but when Kelly made him miss with a huge swipe in the neutral corner the Wearsider fired off a five-punch salvo which sent the supporters wild.
Just minutes later, the noise level rose even higher as Sunderland, the North-East, and the country had a new world champion to cheer.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
