Murtazaliev (23-1, 17 KOs) is striving to regain a championship standing subsequent to surrendering his IBF junior middleweight belt to Kelly through a 12-round majority verdict on January 31 at England’s Newcastle Arena. A segment of the fanbase deemed the ruling contentious, particularly given Murtazaliev’s apparent delivery of more impactful punches and his role as the primary initiator for extensive portions of the bout.
The 32-year-old pugilist has swiftly recovered his impetus following that setback. Murtazaliev recently overcame Serhii Bohachuk via a dominant 10-round unanimous decision during their second encounter, featured on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez versus Terence Crawford event on September 13, 2025.
Adams (36-5, 18 KOs) has likewise resurrected his professional path subsequent to experiencing a defeat against Andreas Katzourakis in 2024. The seasoned aggressive combatant recovered with an unexpected triumph against Bohachuk in his most recent performance, demonstrating a readiness to exchange blows at close quarters versus one of the weight class’s more formidable strikers.
This tactic might pose difficulties when facing Murtazaliev, whom numerous observers consider to be a more potent hitter than Bohachuk.
This eliminator contest contributes another important battle to an active junior middleweight division, which already anticipates potential upcoming bouts featuring Crawford, Errol Spence Jr., Tim Tszyu, Jaron Ennis, and Xander Zayas.
Adams is not recognized for a defensive approach, rendering this pairing perilous when facing an aggressive power hitter such as Murtazaliev. Should Adams opt to engage in a toe-to-toe battle in the manner he did against Bohachuk, the confrontation might swiftly evolve into one of the weight class’s most intense encounters. Murtazaliev’s strength and body blows have previously presented considerable challenges for various contenders in the junior middleweight category.
