There’s no guess work on what Kelly’s strategy will be on Saturday. He’s going to be a hit and run artist, looking to land single shots only. He can’t afford to stand and trade with Murtazaliev, because his survival rate fighting in that manner could be measured in minutes before he gets it.
In theory, it can help a fighter, but if they’re backed by the big money players or are PPV attractions. In Murtazaliev’s case, neither apply. So, he’s been excluded from the big fights that he deserved.
Saturday’s card will be headlined by Murtazaliev vs. Kelly at the Newcastle Arena in Newcastle, England. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN, beginning at 2:00 pm ET. On the undercard, the capable super featherweight Josh Padley will be fighting Jaouad Belmehdi in a 12 round fight for the vacant EBU 130 lb title.
Fans might remember Padley as the opponent selected by WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson to use as a substitute last February in Riyadh. Padley was chosen over Jadier Herrera and was knocked out in one of Shakur’s rare stoppages.
The 2016 Olympian Kelly is in a must win sitiation. Another loss at the championship level wouldn’t necessarily end his career, but it would be a big enough setback that he can never claw his way back. I mean, it took him five years to come back from his sixth round knockout loss to David Avanesyan in 2021. Kelly was young enough to rebuild slowly, but trying that now at 31, he’ll run out of youth.
If Kelly is victorious, he’ll be the new IBF 154 lb title holder, and it’ll open the door for lucrative fights against the big names, Jaron Ennis, Vergil Ortiz Jr., and Sebastian Fundora. Ennis has already been mentioned as a potential opponent for Kelly if he can get his hands on the IBF belt. That’s a perfect world type of situation though, because he’s the underdog, and is expected to get obliterated by Murtazaliev.
Read the full article here
