Ask and you shall receive.

Unimpressed by an initial Matchroom offer to face Jaron Ennis in the American's 154-pound debut, Josh Kelly insisted he would outbox reigning IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev if given an opportunity.

Now, it appears he'll have the chance to back up his bullish words as the IBF has instructed its champion to face No. 3-ranked Kelly, with No. 1-ranked Erickson Lubin set to face Vergil Ortiz on Oct. 18. The No. 2 spot is vacant.

BoxingScene was first to report the news.

The IBF ordered Murtazaliev's team at Main Events and Kelly's Wasserman handlers to strike a deal within 30 days, by Sept. 19. This comes after a proposed purse bid for Murtazaliev-Lubin was canceled.

Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) won the then-vacant title with an 11th-round stoppage of Jack Culcay in April of last year and successfully defended it with a third-round finish of former WBO beltholder Tim Tszyu six months later.

Inactivity has been a concern the champion recently made public, telling The Ring of his frustration that many of his divisional peers were seemingly unwilling to test themselves against him – whether title unifications or otherwise.

It has been 10 months since the Tszyu fight.

"I haven't fought in almost a year," he said. "Maybe I forgot how to fight. It's not good that I am not fighting. I'm a world champion and need to stay active, fighting at least twice a year.

"You feel the rust when you are not active. Assessing distance and punches in a real fight becomes more difficult. It's a big disadvantage to give away rounds like that.

"But I am using this time to be with my beautiful family and sharpening my technical skills. What else can I do?"

Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) defeated Ishmael Davis by a majority decision on the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua undercard in September and stopped 24-1 Flavius Biea in the first round on June 6.

Activity and finding quality opposition have been issues for the 31-year-old from Sunderland, too, dating back to his oft-cancelled European title fight against David Avanesyan. The bout finally took place in February 2021, with Kelly suffering his only pro defeat.

Having bemoaned the sport's politics, Kelly spoke enthusiastically about facing Murtazaliev and confirmed that his name has been placed into the sweepstakes for the champion's second title defence.

"I'll fight him no problem, and about Tom and Jerry fights, styles make fights," he told The Ring's Louis Hart. "This Tom and Jerry fighter will go in there, beat Murtazaliev and stand him on his head.

"I heard Turki talking on ThaBoxingVoice, said he couldn't get anyone to fight him, offered three opponents and everyone's scared. ... We put our name in for that. Haven't heard nothing back.

"I think I make him look silly. I saw him against Jack Culcay, and that was a bad night for him at the office. He's got two arms and two legs, exactly like me.

"I'm faster than him. He probably hits harder and is bigger, but it's not about that. It's the IQ, and I've got everything to stand him on his head, 100%."

Murtazaliev responded to that comment on Instagram, saying he better hide well. And now, finally, there's some encouraging movement toward an agreement with this IBF order.