The echoes of a packed stadium are far away for Bakhram Murtazaliev, but his focus is laser-sharp on October. The former IBF junior middleweight champion is in talks for a fight back home in Russia, with his team seeking a high-profile opponent to keep him active after his loss to Josh Kelly in January.
Murtazaliev currently holds the IBF’s mandatory challenger spot, but the timeline is uncertain. Kelly was given an early title defense against Caoimhin Agyarko, which pushed Murtazaliev further behind. Meanwhile, Kelly is openly looking to unify the division with Jaron Ennis, who holds both the WBA and WBO titles.
A potential matchup between Kelly and Ennis could lead to a larger unification fight with WBC champion Sebastian Fundora, creating a long wait for Murtazaliev despite his status. Promoter Kathy Duva revealed the goal is to book a strong opponent in Russia by October to keep the former champion active.
Murtazaliev captured the IBF title in October 2024 by defeating Tim Tszyu, before the narrow defeat to Kelly in January. An October fight will give him momentum as the junior middleweight division plays out its title possibilities.