Lee Rogers (7-0, 2 KOs) dominated Eric Omar Lopez (20-35-3, 12 KOs) in six rounds at super lightweight, controlling range with a sharp jab, lateral movement and clean counterattacks. Lopez moved forward, absorbed shots, and stayed busy, but Rodgers’ timing and footwork dictated every exchange. The referee ruled it 60-54, and Rogers chased the score to 8-0.

Bradley Casey Defeated Lee Roberts on points after four rounds with a combination of solid jab, inside work and firm control. Casey chased the score to 4-0, with 1 KO. Roberts’ record fell to 1-4. In the flyweight opener, the scorecards were always in Casey’s favor.

Josh Kelly says Bahram Murtazaliyev doesn’t faze him. He sounded relaxed and it was okay to stay relaxed on the way to the ring, but once the fight was over it wasn’t a big deal.

Kelly talks about intimidation being a mental thing, but Murtazhaliev relies on pressure, distance control, and forcing his opponent to stay close. His ability to space the floor and allow opponents to work in close quarters is where his strength comes into play. Kelly has been there before.

David Avanesyan remains by his side in 2021. Kelly didn’t give in or panic and tried to fight through the pressure, but the fight never got going. The bullets kept falling and the damage was piling up, and Kelly was taking more damage than he could bear. By the fifth round, this became apparent. After one round, he had seen enough of the corner.

Murtazaliyev faces the same problem, except he punches with more power. Once close, he applies pressure and deals damage. His suspension of Tim Tszyu last October made that clear. Tszyu had not been dealt with like this before, and once Murtazaliev got close, the fight was over quickly.

Since that loss, Kelly’s seven-game winning streak has been a solid rebuild. It restored confidence but didn’t answer the same question. None of these opponents were boxers who could force him into prolonged close combat.

Staying calm helps when a boxer controls the pace and space. It helps even less when staying close turns into a battle. Against Murtazariev, these moments tend to work in one side’s favour.

Kelly did not fail because he no longer believed. He gets into trouble when he gets stuck in unmanageable territory, and Murtazaliev was created to keep his opponents there.

battle details
Josh Kelly vs. Bahram Murtazaliyev
IBF junior middleweight title fight
Saturday, January 31st
Newcastle, England
Broadcast: DAZN
Main card starts at 11 a.m. ET