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Josh Kelly believes Bakhram Murtazaliev's fearsome knockout record will inspire him to pull off an upset win in Saturday's world title fight. Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) challenges the Russian for his IBF junior middleweight title at the Newcastle Arena after registering seven straight wins since David Avanesyan stopped him at welterweight in 2021. Despite that form and home advantage in the northeast of England, Kelly is still viewed as the underdog by bookmakers, pundits and fans. But Kelly, 31, from Sunderland, insists he prefers to face big hitters like Murtazaliev. "I'm calling it beauty and the beast," Kelly told ESPN. "I think he's going to be shocked by my punch power. I've got some power now I've moved up to 154 pounds. I feel I could be laying him on his back a few times if he's not careful. Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs), from Chechnya, ends 15 months out of the ring when he makes a second title defence after stopping Jack Culcay and Tim Tszyu in his last two fights. Kelly, who has carefully studied those two fights to ensure he does not make the same mistakes as Tszyu and Culcay, admits he must avoid getting swept along by what will be a fervent home support. "Tszyu brings sharp hands and punches well but he had zero head movement against Murtazaliev, so it came down to who caught who first," Kelly told ESPN. Stepping up a weight class has been a big factor in Kelly's run of good form, as well as getting over his problems with hypochondria (an anxiety about falling ill). JOSH KELLY has revealed the shock tragedy that struck Anthony Joshua has helped shape his new outlook on boxing. Joshua was in Nigeria just ten days after beating YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami when he was involved in a horror car crash. AJ survived but his two close friends, personal trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele and recovery therapist Sina Ghami, sadly lost their lives in the tragedy. Kelly – who spent time training alongside Joshua at Team GB’s Sheffield base – admits the incident changed his outlook on his boxing career. And heading into his IBF super-welterweight world title fight against Bakhram Murtazaliev, it has helped ease the pressure on Kelly’s shoulders. He told Matchroom Boxing: “After I lost, I was building so much pressure on myself. That totally changed my mindset. I thought no one cares. Kelly, 31, was beaten for the first time in 2021 behind-closed-doors against David Avanesyan, 37, for the European welterweight title. But he has rebuilt with seven wins since up at 154lb, while overcoming personal demons that had affected his early career. Joshua, 36, meanwhile is taking time out to grieve the loss of his fallen friends, who he had a lifelong bond with. Josh Kelly is an English professional boxer. He is a former British light-middleweight and Commonwealth welterweight title holder. As an amateur he competed in the men's welterweight event at the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2015 European Games, in which he won a bronze medal. Kelly is scheduled to challenge IBF light-middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev at Newcastle Arena on 31 January 2026. Click the link to subscribe for more handy tips: Also follow me on: INSTAGRAM: #eddiehearn #matchroomboxing #boxingtrainer #jaronennis #terencecrawford #boxingcompetition #boxingedits #boxingchampion #boxingclips