Kelly, now 18-1-1 (9 KOs), started by circling the ring, allowing his tall Russian opponent to come forward. Both men’s timing was a little off, but in the second they started to find their range. Kelly was first to land a shot that brought a cheer from his home crowd, but Murtazaliev quickly returned fire with a right hand. Kelly, 31, was having the better of it, the Russian just couldn’t tie down Kelly as he bounced round the ring with his hands low. Early in the fourth it looked as though Murtazaliev, 33, may be starting to find the target when a sharp left hand landed, but as the Russian came into land again, Kelly fired in a sharp jab that sent Murtazaliev tumbling to the floor. Kelly had said earlier in the week that he had envisioned Murtazaliev on the floor, and he had done exactly that, but his foe quickly climbed to his feet.
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