Josh Kelly has responded to Xander Zayas as negotiations continue between the two for a potential unification bout at 154lbs
Britain’s newest world champion Josh Kelly (18-1-1, 9ko’s) is on the hunt after the perfect start to 2026.
Nicknamed as the ‘pretty boy’, he defeated Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-1, 17ko’s) via majority decision in January.
Re-signing with Matchroom Boxing in 2025, Kelly has a plethora of options on the table for his next fight.
Holding the IBF 154lbs crown gives the man from Sunderland a key piece of one of the sports most stacked divisions.
Since his crowning victory, opponents like Jaron Ennis (35-0, 31 ko’s) and Conor Benn (24-1, 14ko’s) have both been linked.
Who appears to be the front runner is Xander Zayas (23-0, 13ko’s), the current WBO and WBA light middleweight champion.
The Puerto Rican champion is the youngest unified champion in the sport, at just 23.
Signed to TopRank, his most recent fight was broadcasted free to watch on YouTube.
After ESPN decided to not renew TopRank’s contract, the American outfit have struggled to find a new deal.
Many TopRank fighters have fought on Matchroom Boxing events on DAZN, and Zayas can follow suit.
Xander Zayas has publicly claimed that Josh Kelly does not want the fight.
In a heated response via X, Kelly has stated:
“This is some lies here”.
“My promoter is the only one making offers to you”.
“We are willing to come to the US to make the fight”.
“I’ve been told categorically you’ve said you will NOT come to England”.
“Matchroom and DAZN have a set up on tv top rank don’t ATM”.
“So I’m smelling someone sees an easier fight elsewhere for some money or has over priced him self on purpose just to look at different options”.
“Now you all could have boxed Bakhram nobody jumped at that chance, except me and I went and beat the boogeyman so no way would I be refusing any fights with the likes of Zayas”.
This is some lies here 🙈
1. My promoter is the only one making offers to you
2. We are willing to come to the US to make the fight
3. I’ve been told categorically you’ve said you will NOT come to England
4. Matchroom and DAZN have a set up on tv top rank don’t ATM
— Josh Kelly 🥊 (@JOSHPBK) March 4, 2026
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