The IBF has instructed their junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev to face Josh Kelly.

With No. 1 contender Erickson Lubin seemingly heading towards a fight with WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz and the No. 2 spot vacant, the No. 3 contender, Sunderland’s 17-1-1 (9 KOs) Kelly, is set to challenge the feared Russian, sources have informed BoxingScene. 

Erickson Lubin’s next move: Bakhram Murtazaliev or Vergil Ortiz?

Erickson Lubin has tough choices ahead. Should he chase championship gold against Bakhram Murtazaliev or take the high-profile risk against Vergil Ortiz? BoxingScene Today breaks down the options, challenges, and what’s really at stake.

Tuesday | Aug 19, 2025

The IBF has ordered negotiations – between Murtazaliev’s representatives at Main Events and Kelly’s team – to start now and for a deal to be struck within 30 days, by September 19.

Kelly is trained by Adam Booth, and the camp recently were linked to a contest with Jaron “Boots” Ennis in Philadelphia.

But Kelly, a 2016 Rio Olympian, told BoxingScene months ago that Murtazaliev was his No. 1 target.

Murtazaliev is 23-0 (17 KOs) and scored impressive stoppages of Jack Culcay and Tim Tszyu in 2024.

Kelly blitzed Flavius Biea in two minutes in June and has won seven in a row since the lone loss of his career against David Avanesyan in 2021.