For five rounds, as serious as it was, Kelly had had plenty to smile about. In the eyes of most observers, he had fashioned a healthy lead and was boxing the perfect kind of fight against an opponent like Murtazaliev. He never stopped moving, of course, as is his custom, but there were enough punches thrown while on the move to keep at bay any accusations of negativity. It was frustrating for Murtazaliev, no doubt, but Kelly’s capacity to move, counterpunch, and move again was, in the context of the fight, a strategy every bit as impactful as the strategy Murtazaliev hoped to impose: come forward, throw heavy shots, hurt his opponent.
Josh Kelly curbs Bakhram Murtazaliev’s enthusiasm
