{"id":47424,"date":"2026-01-28T15:52:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T21:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gambyl.com\/?p=47424"},"modified":"2026-01-28T15:52:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T21:52:23","slug":"bakhram-murtazaliev-vs-josh-kelly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gambyl.com\/en\/boxing\/bakhram-murtazaliev-vs-josh-kelly\/","title":{"rendered":"Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Josh Kelly Preview and Betting Odds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The super welterweight division will reignite the 2026 calendar when Bakhram Murtazaliev and Josh Kelly face off on Saturday at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.

The card not only features a world championship on the line, but also a clash of styles between two boxers at very different points in their careers. For Europe, the event has special significance: the 154-pound division is undergoing a period of change, and this fight has the potential to redefine the title landscape.

The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds at the 154-pound (11 stone\/69.8 kg) limit and will be for the IBF super welterweight world title. Murtazaliev enters as the reigning champion and will make his second defense of the belt he captured against Jack Culcay in April 2024. Since then, he has held the crown for almost two years and now faces a mandatory defense that will test not only his power but also his ability to sustain a reign in a division that few can dominate for long.

The atmosphere in Newcastle will not be neutral. Josh Kelly is a local, arriving with the support of the British fans and facing the biggest opportunity of his career. Meanwhile, the undercard includes emerging figures such as Josh Padley vs. Jaouad Belmehdi and Elif Nur Turhan vs. Taylah Gentzen, adding to the appeal of the entire event.

At\u00a0Gambyl Exchange<\/a>, you can explore all the\u00a0boxing\u00a0<\/a>predictions, the final bets for this bout, and the odds for each fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Josh Kelly Betting Odds and Info<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bakhram Murtazaliev -450<\/em><\/td>Josh Kelly +300<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
When?<\/strong><\/td>Saturday, January 31, at 2:00 pm ET, 1:00 pm CST, 12:00 pm MT, and 11:00 am PT<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Where?<\/strong><\/td>Utilita Arena, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England.<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Ringwalk<\/strong><\/td>4:30 pm ET, 3:30 pm CST, 2:30 pm MT, and 1:30 pm PT<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Where Can I Watch it?<\/strong><\/td>DAZN<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Bet on Bakhram Murtazaliev?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) is a rarity in contemporary boxing: undefeated, quiet, and devastating. At 32, the Russian holds a perfect record fueled by knockout power that has defined 17 of his victories and one clear constant: he does not forgive early mistakes.<\/strong>His style is direct and pragmatic, designed to end fights rather than show off.

His most significant victory came on October 19, 2024, in Orlando, when he defeated Tim Tszyu by TKO in the third round. Against a seasoned opponent, Murtazaliev punished the body and landed clean combinations, confirming that his reign is not circumstantial, but that of a patient and destructive champion.

Trained largely in the United States, with a progression that mixed long decisions and quick finishes, Murtazaliev arrives with a physical advantage in height, the same reach as Kelly, and a 74% knockout rate. Orthodox, powerful, and disciplined, he also maintains a decisive quality among the elite: hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Bet on Josh Kelly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Josh Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) is a European-style boxer: technical, elegant, and quick on his feet. At 31, he comes into this fight with only one loss and a five-fight winning streak. <\/strong>He is backed by experience in big venues such as Wembley and Newcastle, where he has proven his ability to handle long fights and demanding situations.

His most recent moment was the first-round knockout against Flavius Biea in June 2025, a sign that his refined boxing can also be decisive. During that stretch, he racked up solid wins against opponents such as Ishmael Davis, Pl\u00e1cido Ram\u00edrez, Gabriel Corzo, and Troy Williamson, alternating knockouts with clear decisions.

Kelly is defined by his defense and tactical reading: he wins with mobility, changes of pace, and counterattacks rather than pure power. Although his 53% knockout rate pales in comparison to Murtazaliev’s, he makes up for it with intelligence and the ability to force mistakes.<\/strong> Well-positioned in the rankings (1 WBO, 3 IBF), he will fight at home with his sights set on the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Betting Analysis: Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Josh Kelly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On paper, the advantages are split. Murtazaliev owns a clear edge in power and championship experience, along with a slight height advantage. Kelly, however, has accumulated more professional rounds and has consistently shown a stronger ability to adapt as fights extend, particularly in high-level, tactical contests. Reach is even, and age is nearly identical, removing those factors from the equation.

If this fight ends early, especially before the seventh round, the most logical outcome points to Murtazaliev. His pressure and power are designed to overwhelm opponents before they can settle into rhythm. However, if the bout reaches the championship rounds, the balance begins to shift. <\/strong>Kelly’s comfort in long fights, combined with his pacing and ring IQ, becomes increasingly important.

Style is the deciding factor here. Kelly is an awkward, elusive boxer who forces mistakes and thrives in tactical exchanges. That profile has historically caused problems for power-first champions. With hunger, discipline, and adaptability on his side, Kelly has the tools to neutralize Murtazaliev’s strengths.

The pick is Josh Kelly by close decision, turning the fight into a controlled chess match and edging the scorecards over twelve rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Josh Kelly Betting Pick: Josh Kelly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The super welterweight division will reignite the 2026 calendar when Bakhram Murtazaliev and Josh Kelly face off on Saturday at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle. The card not only features a world championship on the line, but also a clash of styles between two boxers at very different points in their careers. For Europe, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38026,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[211],"tags":[202,930],"class_list":["post-47424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-boxing","tag-ibf","tag-super-welterweight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"modified_by":"Erwin Noguera","aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t