British boxer Josh Kelly managed a successful first defense of his IBF light-middleweight world title after a demanding points victory over Caoimhin Agyarko in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Kelly initially dominated the bout, but the momentum shifted in the sixth round when he was docked a point for hitting the back of his opponent’s head.
As the fight progressed, Kelly sustained facial cuts and a bloody nose while Agyarko gained confidence. Kelly demonstrated his championship composure, ultimately prevailing with scores of 114-113, 115-112, and 115-112. Reflecting on the physical toll, Kelly noted that the injuries were the result of head clashes and elbows rather than clean strikes. This win marks Kelly’s 21st professional triumph, while Agyarko experienced the first loss of his career.
On the same undercard, Hamzah Sheeraz maintained his WBO super-middleweight title through an uninspired majority decision against Simon Zachenhuber. Despite securing the win, Sheeraz struggled to find his rhythm and power throughout the twelve rounds. Following these results, both fighters are looking toward high-profile future bouts, with Kelly eyeing a potential showdown against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Sheeraz aiming for a major contest against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
