It was an apropos scene alluding to savagery on the part of boxing's leading boogeyman, who's been boxed out for over 15 months looking for a fight after manhandling Tim Tszyu in three rounds.

Murtazaliev might as well be the Loch Ness Monster, because he traveled to enemy territory in the United Kingdom to defend his IBF junior middleweight title Saturday against Kelly in Newcastle, England, on DAZN.

While Murtazaliev's demeanor was incredibly intense, and quite frankly, terrifying looking, "Pretty Boy" Kelly was flashing a megawatt smile while chewing gum and putting a finger in the air to indicate he's No. 1.

"It's mine, baby," Kelly said quietly as he tapped the belt draped over Murtazaliev's right shoulder. "It's coming with me."

Fervent fans who'd gathered roared in approval. The emotionless Murtazaliev, from Chechnya, didn't flinch.

Suddenly, Kelly's face stiffened. He tilted his neck to the left for a crack. Perhaps it was a nervous tic. Or maybe it was a signal that he's ready to endure a brutal war to become Britain's next champion.

Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs), The Ring’s No. 4-rated fighter at 154 pounds, is certainly not looking past Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs). After all, he finally found a willing dance partner after sitting on the sidelines throughout a demoralizing 2025 campaign. But there is light at the end of the tunnel for the 33-year-old Murtazaliev, who’s been forced to waste prime years of his career by fighting just six times since 2020 due to the high-risk, low-reward status he holds.

“Fifteen months out was a long time,” said Murtazaliev. “I was training a lot, and I am looking forward to stepping in the ring on Saturday and doing what I love to do. They're confident, as you would expect. It makes me laugh a little bit about [Kelly] knocking me down.”

Before heading overseas, Murtazaliev was training in Southern California with head coach Roma Kalantaryan at the KD MMA gym in Montrose. Kalantaryan served several roles as part trainer, friend, and psychologist for his frustrated fighter.

“It was a lot of stress,” said Kalantaryan. “We thought it would be easier to get fights since Bakhram became champion, because you would expect for the guys in the division to want to take his title away. But it got even harder. It was hard for the last six years, and it got even harder.”

Murtazaliev is used to the waiting game and being drowned out by boxing’s politics. He was a long-overdue IBF mandatory challenger beginning in 2019 for former undisputed champion Jermell Charlo, cleaning out second-rate opposition on non-televised undercards while earning step-aside fees.

Once Charlo vacated the IBF title in November 2023, Murtazaliev was in prime position to fight for the vacant crown and knocked out Jack Culcay in April 2024. After crushing Tszyu with a broken hand, calls for Murtazaliev to land a meaningful clash went unanswered.

Sebastian Fundora, Xander Zayas and Jaron Ennis took routes with lesser resistance, while Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Erickson Lubin preferred to fight each other rather than face Murtazaliev to become a first-time champion. Even Tszyu, who was knocked down four times by Murtazaliev in a whitewash, has fought three times since getting demolished.

The frustrating sequence of events even led the career-long 154-pound contender Murtazaliev to consider a run at 147 or 160 pounds.

“It's been very hard for him to stay patient,” said Kalantaryan. “Some days it got to him, because he's away from his family and kids, training with me in Los Angeles, and just waiting for a fight. Josh Kelly got the opportunity and showed up. We're happy that someone actually stepped up. It was a lot of stress, but Bakhram is in a great place right now, mentally and physically.”

Kelly was ultimately given the opportunity to face Murtazaliev once Lubin pulled out of a planned purse bid. By virtue of being the next available contender in line with the IBF, the 2016 Olympian Kelly got the shot, and now, he’ll enjoy a home field advantage courtesy of his promoter, Matchroom Boxing, staging the show.

But when it comes to skills, it is an entirely different story.

“Josh Kelly is a good fighter and has looked good in recent fights. He has great speed and footwork,” said Kalantaryan. “The only thing he's lacking is the pro experience on the world level. He starts strong, but he hasn't been in the ring with a heavy hitter like Bakhram for 12 rounds. Kelly is going to find out really soon that Bakhram is on another level. One hundred percent, Bakhram is going to break him down and stop him, probably very early, or by the ninth round.”

Kalantaryan is expecting Murtazaliev to blast through Kelly, just like David Avanesyan did to the Sunderland native in six rounds in 2021, when Kelly was cut in the fight and dropped twice before coach Adam Booth threw in the towel.

Kelly has bounced back by securing seven straight wins since suffering the lone loss of his career, but against competition that is nowhere near the level of the dangerous Murtazaliev. And with a 52 percent knockout ratio, Kelly doesn’t appear to present the power to get the hard-charging Murtazaliev’s respect, said Kalantaryan.

“This is where I belong. This is where I'm meant to be,” said Kelly. “I'm in a great position now. It's all come round to this. I feel at home. I feel relaxed. This is everything I've envisioned and everything I've thought about. It has come to fruition, so I can't wait. I don't look at the exterior … I feel great. I believe I will be the new IBF world champion.”

If the minus-330 betting favorite Murtazaliev gets past Kelly, he could move on to next defend his title against Ennis, who’s looking for a significant challenge in his quest to become a two-division champion.

Hearn said he wants to match the Murtazaliev-Kelly winner against Ennis.

Murtazaliev, meanwhile, isn’t focused on the future, especially after finally getting to focus and fight in the present.

“Let's see what Saturday is going to bring, and let's see what's after,” said Murtazaliev.

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.