IBF super-welterweight world championship: Caoimhin Agyarko lost to Josh Kelly UD
CAOIMHIN Agyarko produced the performance of his career but fell just short in his bid to dethrone world champion Josh Kelly in Saudi Arabia.
The Belfast fighter took time to settle but he seized momentum in the second half of a rugged battle and Kelly was a bloodied mess by the time the final bell rang.
The judges scored it 114-113, 115-112 and 115-112 for Kelly who was well ahead by the midway point but had to come through a storm when former Holy Trinity ABC star Agyarko closed the distance and let his hands go with real purpose.
“I thought it was close going into the fifth/sixth,” said Agyarko whose stock has risen after impressing in only his second 12-round contest.
“I thought it was one-up to him or level and I thought I took over in the second half of the fight when I moved my feet and let my hands go. No excuses from me, it wasn’t good enough and I lost.
“Well done to Josh, he’s a great champion, very tricky, very awkward.
“I did think I won it but it wasn’t good enough for the judges so well done to Josh and his team.
“I’m just heartbroken, I could have made history tonight but I was in with a classy operator.
“I’ll come again, I’ll be the first black Irish world champion, I promise you that.”
Agyarko took time to settle and Sunderland native Kelly looked slicker and in command in the early stages.
However, Agyarko continued to apply pressure and Kelly’s composure snapped in the fifth as he struck the Belfast fighter viciously in the back of the head. When he did the same in the sixth he was docked a point by referee Ignatius Missailidis.
Agyarko took confidence from Kelly’s loss of discipline and his workrate and shot selection improved in the next and in the eighth he cut loose and went after his opponent, who was now marked under both eyes, with two-handed attacks at close quarters.
Momentum was with the former Holy Trinity fighter as the ninth began and Kelly started to look ragged as Agyarko closed the distance and launched furious attacks.
Crucially, Kelly showed his heart and upped the ante in the 10th and a right uppercut speared through Agyarko’s guard as he attacked early in the round. Again Agyarko was unruffled, he fired out the jab and cracked in hooks off both hands in another good finish to a round which ended with Kelly cut on the bridge of the nose.
Kelly complained to the referee and spat his gumshield out as the fighters clashed in the 11th and although the Englishman landed some clean shots an Agyarko left hand looped over his guard and crashed into his bloodied nose as the round ended.
Agyarko began the final round with a double left hook but Kelly answered with a combination of his own and was able to hold the brave Irishman off and do enough to convince the judges that he should hold onto his belt.
