IT'S nights and fights like tonight that Josh Kelly has been waiting for.
After turning over to the professional ranks following the 2016 summer Olympics, much was expected of the slick Wearsider, who was quickly signed by Matchroom and tipped for the top.
A Wembley defeat to David Avanesyan stopped Kelly in his tracks, and while that remains the only defeat on the 31-year-old's record, it's been something of a grind to get back among the elite.
There's been eye-catching and impressive wins along the way - including victory over Darlington's Troy Williamson - but there's also been several rather low-profile bouts against, with respect, little known opponents.
But Kelly has kept winning and kept hoping and believing his big chance and big fight would come. It's tonight.
In Newcastle, Kelly takes on the heavily favoured Bakhram Murtazaliev, with the 154lbs IBF world title belt on the line.
"This is where I belong, this is where I'm meant to be," said Kelly.
"There's been cracks inside and outside of life, which is what you have to deal with and go through. And you don't know why certain things are happening at the time.
"But God has got you and his plans are bigger than yours. 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 visioned and everything I've thought about.
"I can't wait. I feel at ease, I feel calm. I’m here and I am ready to put a performance on. I believe I will be the new IBF world champion."
To do so, he'll have to defy the odds and do something no fighter has so far managed to achieve - beat Murtazaliev.
The heavy hitting Russian is unbeaten in 23 fights, 17 of which have ended early.
His last outing was an impressive victory over Tim Tszyu, but Kelly will cling to the fact that was in October 2024. Inactivity often hinders rather than helps fighters.
But Murtazaliev said: "Fifteen months out was a long time, but it went very well.
"I was training a lot and I am looking forward to stepping in the ring on Saturday to do what I love to do.
"They're [Kelly's camp] are confident, as you would expect. It makes me laugh when they talk about knocking me down. Let's see what Saturday brings."
Kelly has long had the backing of one of Britain's top coaches in his corner, and Adam Booth believes this is his fighter's time.
"I’m looking at Josh and how he genuinely seems to be at the apex of maturity, strength, understanding what he is as a man, what he’s done and can do as an athlete and as a fighter,” he told BoxingScene.
“I think we call it the prime, coming into his prime. But there are definite, tangible, measurable things that show me that this is the right time for Josh to be at this stage."
He added: "It's been a long journey, it's nine years [since the Olympics].
"There’s no such thing as a straight line to success, it's squiggly, it's up, it's down. And when someone has immense talent, talent isn't enough. If it was all about talent, Josh could have fought for the world title on his first fight.
"But there's things in life and things in the sport that you have to go through to become a complete man and fighter. And that's why I'm confident about Josh because I've seen the evolution.
"I've seen him come back from the worst moments where we have a mature man in his prime without many miles on the clock, with unique skill, a unique flow and state IQ. I'm confident as a challenger, and as a trainer.
"I'm not going to divulge anything that I've looked at. He’s [Murtazaliev] a very good fighter. He’s a world champion and justifiably so.
"It kind of makes us even more excited because it's real. You're fighting someone that everybody's saying they don't want to fight. And, right from the get go, Joshua said I want to fight him. So here we are."
Frank Smith, Matchroom Boxing CEO, said: "With Josh's commercial appeal and he's got a huge profile.
"If he becomes a world champion on Saturday night, he puts himself in a position as one of the six biggest names British boxing with many big commercial fights ahead. There's massive fights to be made."
Tonight's fight will be live on DAZN. More information on how to watch can be found HERE.
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