Josh Kelly sets his sights on formidable IBF suer-welterweight world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev

Josh Kelly has revealed he is eyeing up IBF super-welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev but knows he must take care of the relatively unknown Flavius Biea if he is to secure a showdown with the dangerous Russian.

The British star returns to action this Friday night against Biea, hoping to keep his world title hopes alive with victory over the unheralded Romanian.

Kelly was touted as a world champion in the making when he first turned professional eight years ago, but despite capturing British and International honours, the Newcastle-upon-Tyne star is still awaiting his first crack at a coveted world title.

That could all change over the coming months however, especially given the 31-year-old has recently been elevated up into fourth position in the IBF's 154lbs rankings.

That, together with the fact that number three ranked Xander Zayas is set to fight for the WBO strap and number two contender Erickson Lubin is mandatory for a shot at Murtazaliev's WBC title, means the door has been cracked ajar for the Wasserman star.

"I think everyone knows what my ambitions are, it's always been the world title - I'm determined to get there," he told Boxing News.

I want the IBF title, maybe fighting Murtazaliev is the route for me now - that would be a great fight and I would love to take the challenge.

- Josh Kelly (Boxing News)

"I believe it's a 50/50 fight and people may favour him, but they are the sort of fights that I want to be involved in!

"It's all well and good having these dreams and ambitions though, I have to get there and I have to get the job done this weekend against Biea first."

'Pretty Boy' Kelly will headline at the Newcastle Arena on Friday night, marking his first outing since a razor-thin majority decision success over Ishamel Davis in September.

The Geordie was initially pencilled in to fight former world champion Liam Smith, only for illness to rule the Liverpudlian out of the bout with Davis receiving a late call to step in for the veteran fighter.

Kelly's subsequent victory has improved his standing with the IBF, meaning another success this weekend will likely see him positioned as mandatory for Murtazaliev's world title.

"I feel like I’m a nightmare for him, I really believe that" he added.

"I watched him against Jack Culcay, and he was getting beat until Culcay punched himself out - I know I have the quality to cause him a lot of problems.

"When I am in form, as I am now, I am a dangerous fighter and I would back myself against almost anybody.

"When I do a job on [Biea] then I’ll be like, ‘yeah, alright, no problem. I feel good; let’s go.’"

Mark Mothershaw

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