(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Josh Kelly Moves Closer to Junior Middleweight World Title Shot
British boxer Josh Kelly now finds himself with two possible routes toward a world title opportunity at 154 pounds.
Earlier this week, the IBF ordered Kelly to face current champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. Kelly is ranked No. 3 by the IBF, but with Erickson Lubin (No. 1) focused on a potential bout against interim WBC champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. and the No. 2 spot vacant, the Sunderland fighter is next in line.
Adding to his momentum, the WBO released updated rankings on August 21, placing Kelly in the No. 1 position after previously being ranked third. His rise followed Xander Zayas’ victory over Jorge Garcia Perez in July, which earned Zayas the WBO’s vacant belt and pushed Perez down to 10th place.
Kelly’s Career Journey
Josh Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) represented Great Britain at the 2016 Olympic Games before turning professional in 2017. Despite a fast rise, his early career had setbacks:
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A draw with Ray Robinson in 2019.
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A sixth-round stoppage loss to David Avanesyan in 2021.
Since then, Kelly has rebuilt impressively. He has won seven straight fights, including a first-round knockout of Flavius Biea (24-1) in June 2025. He also owns a strong victory over the previously unbeaten Troy Williamson in 2022.
Kelly’s planned 2024 fight with Liam Smith was canceled due to Smith’s illness. Instead, Kelly defeated late replacement Ishmael Davis via majority decision.
Weight Class Considerations
While Kelly is campaigning at junior middleweight, his recent bouts have hovered around the limit. His fight against Davis was technically at middleweight, and he weighed just under 157 pounds for the Biea knockout. His last official fight at the 154-pound limit came in December 2023.
What’s Next?
With his new WBO No. 1 ranking and the IBF ordering a title eliminator, Kelly has options on the table. Whether he faces Murtazaliev, challenges through the WBO path, or waits for another opportunity, the 31-year-old contender is firmly back in the world title conversation.
