Caoimhin Agyarko fell short in his bid to become Ireland’s first black world champion on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, losing a unanimous decision to defending IBF super-welterweight title holder Josh Kelly after a hard-fought 12-round contest.
The West Belfast challenger pushed the champion all the way on the Anthony Joshua versus Kristian Prenga undercard, finishing the bout strongly as a bloodied Kelly clung to his belt. Two judges scored the bout 115-112 and the third had it 114-113, all in favor of the Sunderland native.
A Fast Start and a Late Surge in Jeddah
Kelly utilized his hand speed and movement to bank the opening rounds. The champion established a healthy lead early, though Agyarko found success with his jab and occasional looping rights. The tactical landscape shifted in the sixth round when referee Ignatius Missailidis docked Kelly a point for landing a punch to the back of the challenger’s head following earlier warnings.
That penalty sparked Agyarko into a higher gear. He closed the distance in the second half of the fight, letting his hands go with greater conviction and punishing Kelly with heavy hooks. As the championship rounds ticked down, a close-range exchange left Kelly with a badly damaged, gushing nose and cuts under his eyes. The champion finished the fight heavily marked, but his early dominance proved decisive on the scorecards.
Honest Defeat and Respect Between Rivals
Both men raised their fists at the final bell, but it was Kelly who heard the And Still
announcement upon result confirmation. Speaking to broadcasters after the bout, an emotional Agyarko offered no excuses for the outcome.
“I’m just heartbroken I couldn’t make history tonight, but I was in with a classy operator,” Agyarko told DAZN afterwards. “Adam [Booth, Kelly’s coach] said to me they underestimated me and I have levels to go through, but it wasn’t good enough, ultimately.”
Caoimhin Agyarko
The defeat marks the first blemish on Agyarko’s professional ledger, dropping his record to 18 wins and 1 loss. Kelly improved to 19 wins, one draw, and one loss, securing his ninth victory since his 2021 defeat against David Avanesyan. The champion offered words of encouragement to his opponent in the ring.
“Don’t take it as a loss, take it as a learn. That was a huge fight for him, his second 12-round fight and he learned a lot in there. He’ll come back but has to show how much he wants it, bounce back from his loss like I did five or six years ago. That’s the true heart of a champion.”
Josh Kelly
Where the Challenger Goes From Here
Analysts examining the bout noted that Agyarko might have benefited from an eliminator or an additional learning fight before jumping straight into a world title challenge. Yet his ability to push Kelly in the championship rounds confirms his status as a world-level capable competitor.
Agyarko vowed to return and work his way back to another title opportunity, maintaining his ambition to become the first black Irish world champion. For Kelly, the physical toll of the bout—marked by a badly damaged nose and facial lacerations—was evident as the defending champion finished the fight.
