Sunderland's Josh Kelly Wins World Title After Knockdown

After hitting the canvas in the ninth round, Josh Kelly refused to let his world title dream slip away.

The Sunderland boxer rose from a crushing left hand and outfought Russian champion Bakhram Murtazaliev to claim the IBF light-middleweight title in Newcastle on Saturday night. Two judges scored the fight in Kelly's favor while the third called it a draw, giving the 31-year-old the biggest win of his career.

The fight showcased both men's power and heart. Kelly sent Murtazaliev crashing to the mat in the fourth round with a vicious left hand, even winking at his opponent as he got back up. But the Russian knockout specialist, who came in undefeated with 22 wins, answered back with his own devastating punch five rounds later.

That's when the real test began. Kelly could have crumbled after getting floored, but instead he dug deep and outmaneuvered his opponent through the final rounds. His comeback secured his eighth straight victory since his only professional loss back in February 2021.

"It feels like a dream. I envisioned this," Kelly told BBC Radio 5 Live afterward, his voice thick with emotion. "I had to concentrate. I feel overwhelmed. I need to take a second backstage to gather myself. I'm mentally exhausted."

Why This Inspires

Kelly's victory represents more than just another title win. He's the first world champion ever from Sunderland, putting his city on the global boxing map. His journey from his first professional defeat four years ago to world champion shows the power of persistence and self-belief.

The win also adds Kelly to an impressive roster of six current British male world champions. He joins heavyweights and featherweights across multiple weight classes, proving that British boxing is experiencing a genuine golden era.

For Murtazaliev, the loss was his first in 23 professional bouts, but he pushed the hometown fighter to his absolute limit. The respect between the two warriors was evident as they battled through 12 grueling rounds.

Kelly's comeback from that ninth-round knockdown will be the moment people remember, the image of a fighter who refused to quit when his dream was on the line.