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Hearn plots perfect title foe for Kelly as July return mooted
Josh Kelly looks set to make his first IBF light-middleweight title defence around July, with Eddie Hearn dropping hints on his star's next moves.
The Sunderland native outpointed Bakhram Murtazaliev in Newcastle back in late January to become one of Britain's newest world champions.
Since then, several names have been linked to a challenge against the star, including Xander Zayas and Jaron 'Boots' Ennis among others.
While those two stars have also been linked to a bout with each other, Matchroom Boxing supremo Hearn suggests news is incoming for Kelly.
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"Josh has a lot of options," Hearn told The Ring on his star's next move. "He likes the Zayas fight and I've already spoken about him fighting Ennis.
"Adam Booth and him are starting to push me about these options, so we'll make a decision in the next week but I think he'll make a defense in July."
Kelly is seeking to extend his reign after a busy 2026 for British prizefighters that has seen a reshuffle of their champion roster at the sport's summit.
Dalton Smith earned WBC super-lightweight honours in January, before Nick Ball lost his WBA featherweight crown to Brandon Figueroa last month.
Plans shift into focus for Kelly
DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel
Josh Kelly has enjoyed himself over the past few months, rightly reaping the rewards of a newly-minted world champion and the perks of the game.
But now the itchy feet have kicked in, the star is keen to test himself against the best again, and underline his credentials as the current kingpin.
While several other rivals appear poised to secure bouts with each other, there will be little question about Eddie Hearn's matchmaker skills here.
Kelly, who has spoken of a dream to take a major fight back to the Stadium of Light, will arguably never have a better chance than to do so now.
But a trip to America would offer plenty of incentive for the prizefighter too, with several pathways to the future now laid out before him and his team.
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