Pretty Boy Josh Kelly finally put together a complete performance of speed, precision, discipline and courage to overcome one of boxing's boogeymen, Bakhram Murtazaliev, to snatch the IBF Light-Middleweight (Super-Welter) and belatedly fulfil the rich promise he has always possessed.
Sunderland's Josh Kelly, aged 31, and widely regarded as exposed by David Avanesyan some years ago, delivered a near punch perfect display in order to overcome Chechen hitman Bakhram Murtazaliev and win the 154 pound IBF title. A victory that was built on his exceptional hand speed, excellent judgement of distance and unflinching dedication to the fight plan devised by trainer Adam Booth.
As a former Olympian, with good looks and recognisable attributes of speed and movement, Kelly was expected to find a way to world-title opportunities much sooner but questions emerged over his true self-belief. Approaching this fight with one of the division's hardest punchers, an aggressive front foot champion who was largely avoided by Kelly's contemporaries, inevitably those doubts resurfaced.
Murtazaliev looked like the manifestation of everything needed to neutralise Kelly's strengths and to prey on his perceived weaknesses. As Kelly strode from side to side on the pre-fight stage, his name illuminated behind him, it was hard to assess whether the scale of the mission was dawning on him or whether he had found the platform needed to extract the sharpest of his edges.
The unbeaten champion, by contrast, was in the ring before his entrance music had even reached its crescendo. No show, all business.
In the opening round, the jeopardy was palpable. Kelly at risk, the foreboding the Californian based Chechen generates when marching forward was felt in every exchange. Murtazaliev's bearded chin jutting toward Kelly, his broad brow and cheek bones prominent, his face emotionless. Vital then, that Kelly could land something early to establish respect. A sharp left hook counter registered as Murtazalier dipped into range. A flurry as the round ended adding flourish to a Kelly round.
The challenger repeated the trick in the second having shown poise and patience, always moving in the first half of the round before settling to counter in the final minute. Kelly had edged both, the third was tougher to separate as each man tried to dictate range and pace with their contrasting styles.
With a tone of competitiveness now set and with a game plan that won Kelly two if not three of the opening rounds new questions were forming, did Kelly have the concentration and legs to sustain the tactics?
Drama punctuated the 4th round as a counter left hand by Kelly, little more than a jab delivered as he stepped out of a corner and the path of the on rushing champion landed and knocked the taller man off his feet. Suddenly, Kelly had a lead, had a knockdown and posed a riddle for the champion to solve. Something to capitalise on. Murtazalier smiled as he stood. Acknowledging the shot, but undamaged. Respect was unquestionably gained.
A left hand tucked against his temple illustrated the respect he now held as the fifth round began. Kelly landed another big right hand counter to snare the fifth round and while the sense of inevitability about a surge from the champion remained, concern was growing in his corner. The sixth round saw Kelly use his feet to stay out of range, a masterclass in strategy and elusive management of range and risk. Judges may have preferred the stalking pressure of the champion but few punches of note were landed. Half way and the RoundtableBoxing scorecard was a shut out for Kelly, plus a knockdown.
The 7th and 8th were tricky to score, Kelly still landing the sharper shots with accuracy but Murtazaliev was closing the gap and was much the busier, though 'shot-landed' statistics suggested it was incredibly narrow. Murtazaliev was ahead on body shots, usually the straight right, but in the main, Kelly seemed untroubled.
And then, in the 9th, the moment of truth arrived. Kelly made a mistake. The shadow of complacency drifting over his spotlight. He held his feet too long in that way fighters stretching their talent to a higher level sometimes do. A momentary pause, and by trying to exit the trap he was in, Kelly was caught with a left hook high above his right eye. He fell to the floor and Michael Alexander's count began.
Still ahead on cards it could be assumed, the test now was; surviving the round and whether his confidence and concentration would survive the setback. He was alert and seemingly unhurt and in his corner he had one of the best voices available, Adam Booth - the man who guided David Haye to a hit and run victory over Nicolay Valuev all those years ago.
Murtazaliev was energised by the breakthrough and with championship rounds to come the sense Kelly may not survive or be overtaken on the cards loomed large in the Newcastle Utilita Arena. Kelly was less confident in the 10th. Skirting around the fight Murtazaliev was keen to have, holding on, but surviving. Crucially, the Champion was unable to capitalise and punish the retreating challenger, but the round was his.
Kelly was back at range in the 11th, using hand speed and poise to off-set his opponent's march and avoiding the punches with sharp head movement. Murtazaliev managed to close the gap as the round drew to a close but Kelly felt like he'd been in charge. With the 12th round ahead, the champion needed a knockout on this observer's scorecard. Kelly had something to lose now, not simply something to win.
Confidence seemed to return as the final three minutes began. Kelly spinning out of a corner and then launching a sustained attack on Murtazaliev who was left facing the wrong way won the Brit the 12th and confirmed a wide score for the Roundtable card.
Scores of 114-113, 115-113, 113-113 illustrated the importance of the final round, in which Kelly touched down but the referee didn't believe it was a count, as Kelly took the title via Majority Decision.
Bigger nights now await Josh Kelly. He may never top this one.
Key Undercard Notes:
Doncaster's Josh Padley won the EBU Super-Featherweight title by second round knockout. It was punch-perfect and demonstrated his growing self-assurance since his late notice fight with Shakur Stevenson a year ago. His French opponent was worryingly inept. Jaouad Belmehdi appeared unable to hold any shots, disorganised and lacking balance. Padley can only beat who is standing in front of him.
Turkish slugger Elif Nur Turhan defended her IBF Lightweight title, beating competent Australian Taylan Gentzen by UD10. It was a messy fight, as the Golden Turk's fights often can be. She has precious little technique but overloads on aggression and power, of which she has plenty. Gentzen had success from range but in the end, the superior strength was enough to win rounds. Roundtable scorecard 97-94.