Kelly retains IBF super welterweight title with close points win over Agyarko in Jeddah

Pre-fight ambitions

Caoimhín Agyarko entered the ring in Jeddah unbeaten in 18 professional contests, aiming to become Ireland's first black world champion and join Katie Taylor and Anthony Cacace as the island's current titleholders. Across from him, Josh Kelly defended the IBF super welterweight strap with just a single loss to David Avanesyan five years earlier and a reputation for tricky hand speed. The bout served as chief support to Anthony Joshua's heavyweight return against Kristian Prenga, yet the 11-stone division clash developed its own drama across twelve rounds.

Early control and a costly deduction

Kelly owned the opening exchanges. Agyarko tried to box at range, but the champion's reflexes and showboating kept him on the ropes. The Belfast man raised his arm after several rounds, signalling confidence to the judges, yet the scoring was already drifting away. The contest twisted in the sixth when referee warned Kelly twice and then deducted a point for repeated punches to the back of Agyarko's head. The deduction coincided with Agyarko's best spell of the fight, closing distance and forcing the champion onto the back foot.

The mid-fight shift

Agyarko carried the urgency into the eighth and ninth, landing left hooks and dragging fatigue out of the champion. Kelly, now bleeding from a gash across his nose and a cut under his left eye, looked ready to fold. His trainer Adam Booth would later admit they had underestimated the challenger. Agyarko believed he had taken over. "In the second half when I started holding my feet and letting my hands go, I think I took over," he told DAZN.

“Adam said to me they underestimated me and I have levels to go through, but it wasn't good enough, ultimately.”

Championship-round response

Kelly summoned a response in the 10th, firing a heavy early offensive that forced Agyarko to gut through the blows before finishing the round strongly. Blood still oozing from his nose, the Sunderland man found a second wind in the 11th and 12th, increasing his activity and stealing the close stanzas. Agyarko's output dipped slightly, and the judges' eventual tallies reflected that late surge.

Scorecards and immediate reaction

The unanimous verdict read 114-113, 115-111 and 115-111, handing Kelly his 21st professional victory and the first defeat of Agyarko's career. Both fighters celebrated at the final bell, certain they had done enough. "That was a messy and hard fight. I didn't get cuts from punches like this, it comes from heads and elbows," Kelly said, gesturing to his face. Agyarko was blunt: "I'm just heartbroken I couldn't make history tonight, but I was in with a classy operator."

“It's not the result I wanted, but well done to Josh and his team. I'm going to come again and I will be the first black Irish world champion.”

Agyarko's record dipped to 18-1 in his 30th outing, while Kelly improved to 21-1-1. The challenger offered no excuses, attributing the loss solely to not doing enough in the eyes of the judges.