Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Josh Kelly: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

After demolishing Tim Tszyu in a third-round TKO in October 2024, the menacing Russian did not have a single fight in 2025 — unable to lure anyone into sharing a ring with him. This weekend, the undefeated Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) has a dance partner in Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) who is riding a seven-fight win streak since suffering his only pro loss — a sixth-round TKO to David Avanesyan — back in February 2021. In Kelly’s one ring appearance last year, he disposed of Flavius Biea in just over two minutes for a raucous knockout.

Will Murtazaliev unleash his frustration of being inactive for 15 months by proving he is the boogeyman of the 154-pound division? Or will Kelly make good on his promise to hand the Russian his first loss? DAZN News examines who has the edge between the champ and challenger Saturday night.

​Boxing Styles

Bakhram Murtazaliev’s rugged style entails him menacing forward off the front foot with a prodding power jab. When he is not collapsing the pocket on opponents, the Russian fighter is timing them with cold, calculated and precise counterpunching. Plus, he tends to be an efficient fighter, who does not waste movements or punch attempts.

Tim Tszyu found all of this out the hard way in the second round of their October 2024 fight when he errantly launched a left uppercut and Murtazaliev caught him in traffic with a counter left hook across the jaw for a knockdown. Seconds later, Tszyu discovered just how devastating taking a right-left combo from Murtazaliev can be as he made the Australian taste the canvas again. All this being said, Murtazaliev is an imposing force in a few ways.

Where Murtazaliev pressures with punishing punching power, Josh Kelly’s style entails quick hands and high volume. Though effective with this brand of the sweet science, Kelly sometimes leaves himself vulnerable to a counterpunch when getting aggressive in the pocket.

Against a caliber opponent and champion like Murtazaliev, Kelly cannot afford to make mistakes.

The champ gets the nod in this clash of styles.

Edge: Murtazaliev

Power

As solid of a fighter that Tszyu is, even his high volume of diverse punching was no match for Murtazaliev’s punishing power. The Russian bruiser crushed Tszyu, knocking him down three times during the second round and once more in the third, making the Australian’s corner throw in the towel.

Murtazaliev’s power display put the junior middleweight division on further notice of what a force he could be. His ledger mirrors that with 17 of his 23 victories coming by the way of knockout.

Kelly has pop in his punch too, but Murtazaliev’s power is on another level.

Edge: Murtazaliev

Mental Warfare

Kelly is supremely confident that he is going to snatch Murtazaliev’s IBF junior middleweight world title. And he should be confident. It is the only way to ready one’s self against a legit boogeyman.

However, time will tell if his assurance holds up against the measured pressure of Murtazaliev. Until Kelly can prove that — something nobody has been able to do — the undefeated Murtazaliev owns the psychological advantage entering this bout as well.

Edge: Murtazaliev

Who has the edge in Murtazaliev vs. Kelly?

To date, 23 fighters have tried but none have been able to bully the bully in Murtazaliev. Though we expect a game effort from Kelly to derail this trend, DAZN News has the 3-0 edge residing with the champ to retain his title.

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