A dancing Josh Kelly strutted in front of his roaring home faithful at today’s Weigh-In as he faced-off with an unmoved, Bakhram Murtazaliev for a final time ahead of their crunch IBF World Super Welterweight Championship clash in Newcastle – live on DAZN.
The North East native and 2016 Team GB Olympian will bid to become only Britain’s sixth reigning men’s World Champion when he challenges the undefeated Murtazaliev in the Main Event of a stacked card at the Utilita Arena.
Both fighters comfortably made the weight limit – and Kelly is confident he will realise his lifelong dream and win the gold on Saturday night.
“Being around my friends and my loved ones, I just feel really chilled out and relaxed. Everything is taken care of now and, with the right mindset, everything will take of itself in that ring,”Kelly said, speaking on DAZN to presenter Jamie Ward and former World Champion Darren Barker.
“It’s deceptive how hard I hit and that’s the key. I’m not comparing myself to Floyd Mayweather at all, but people overlooked his power and then realised how hard he hit. I feel like I have got that snapping, hard power where people have to think about it and don’t want to get hit by it again. He will have to deal with what I have.
“I feel great at this weight. I boxed at this weight around ten years ago, then went down to Welterweight and later back up again. I feel at home and feel so good. I’m ready to go now. I’m just a kid from a council estate, living his dream. Now I just need to put everything I’ve worked on into practice tomorrow.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that I am going to walk away with that belt tomorrow. 100 per cent.”
Full Weigh-In results and Fight Night running order can be found below.
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Brad Casey (199.3lbs) vs Lee Roberts (196.3lbs)
Cruiserweight Contest
4 x 3-minute rounds
Lee Rogers (121.3lbs) vs Erick Omar Lopez (121.2lbs)
Super Bantamweight Contest
6 x 3-minute rounds
Kiaran Macdonald (117.7lbs) vs Marius Vysniauskas (116.95lbs)
Bantamweight Contest
4 x 3-minute rounds
Josh Blenkiron (134.8lbs) vs Robbie Colman (134.7lbs)
Northern Area Lightweight Title
10 x 3-minute rounds
MAIN CARD – Live on DAZN from 7pm
Leo Atang (236lbs) vs Amine Boucetta (241.25lbs)
Heavyweight Contest
4 x 3-minute rounds
Elif Nur Turhan (134.55lbs) vs Taylah Gentzen (134.15lbs)
IBF World Lightweight Championship
10 x 2-minute rounds
Josh Padley (129.7lbs) vs Jaouad Belmehdi (128.5lbs)
EBU European Super Featherweight Championship
12 x 3-minute rounds
Bakhram Murtazaliev (152.2lbs) vs Josh Kelly (153.65lbs)
IBF World Super Welterweight Championship
12 x 3-minute rounds
