Josh Kelly Retains IBF Title After Heavy Defeat of Caoimhin Agyarko

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The judges scored the fight 115-112, 115-112, and 114-113 after 12 rounds of competition. Kelly built a quick lead with his jab, movement, and accurate left hand before Agyarko worked his way into a relentless pressure fight. A series of accidental headbutts left Kelly’s face badly scarred, and the champion looked a lot different in the final bell than he did in the opener.

Agyarko refused to be discouraged after falling behind. He pushed forward, forced exchanges, and made Kelly fight at a pace that prevented the champion from settling into a comfortable rhythm for long. Although Kelly’s early work showed up well enough on the scorecards, the fight got tougher as the rounds went by.

Kelly accomplished the first goal by successfully defending his IBF belt for the first time, but the performance also left questions about how he stacks up against the division’s elite.

A name that immediately comes to mind is joint WBA and WBO champion Jaron Ennis. Kelly has the technical ability to compete in many fights at 154 pounds, yet Saturday’s performance did little to suggest that he is ready for a fighter with Ennis’ combination of size, strength, speed, and finishing ability. After taking a lot of punishment from Agyarko and ending the night with a bad face, Kelly may need more time to develop before taking on the team’s biggest challenge. It will take time for Kelly’s face to heal from the cuts and damage to her nose.