Bloodied Kelly battles past Agyarko to retain title

Josh Kelly throws a left hook at Caoimhin Agyarko

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Josh Kelly (right) made a successful first defence of his world title in a close points win

ByKal SajadBBC Sport boxing journalist

Published41 minutes ago

Briton Josh Kelly was forced to dig deep to retain his IBF light-middleweight world title, surviving a spirited late comeback from Belfast's Caoimhin Agyarko to win a narrow points decision in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Kelly looked in complete control until the complexion of the contest changed when he received a deserved sixth-round point deduction for repeated punches to the back of the head.

The 31-year-old was then bloodied by cuts across his face and a gash on his nose as Agyarko grew in confidence and began to land with increasing success.

But Kelly stood firm through the championship rounds to secure victory, with the judges scoring the contest 114-113, 115-112 and 115-112.

"That was a messy and hard fight. I didn't get cuts from punches like this, it comes from heads and elbows. This is what it looks like when you've got tight skin," Kelly said.

"I knew he [Agyarko] was go to be tricky and awkward. [He had] a good game plan. He tried to make it a good boxing match. I had to show a different side to me at the end and that is what a champions does."

Fighting on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's heavyweight comeback against Kristian Prenga, Sunderland's Kelly claimed his 21st professional victory.

Agyarko, 29, had hoped to become Ireland's first black world champion. Instead, despite a brave second-half comeback, he suffered the first defeat of his professional career in his 30th contest.

Also on the card, WBO super-middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz laboured to an underwhelming points win over Simon Zachenhuber.

The 27-year-old Briton was far from his best and struggled to find his rhythm but was awarded a majority decision as he extended his record to 24 wins and one defeat.

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'Pretty Boy' comes through bloodied bout

The tension between the pair had simmered all week, threatening to boil over at Friday's weigh-in after Kelly vowed to "humiliate" his opponent.

Kelly started with a spring in his step, dropping his hands, smiling and chatting to Agyarko as he controlled the opening exchanges.

The challenger was already showing swelling under his right eye by the second round as Kelly began to let his hands go, firing in sharp combinations.

Fresh from winning the IBF title with a points victory over Bakhram Murtazaliev in January, Kelly looked every inch a confident champion. Agyarko had moments with his jab but struggled to match the champion's speed and movement.

Kelly unloaded with a flurry in the fifth, but the point deduction disrupted his rhythm and Agyarko, renowned for finishing strongly, began to find success with left hooks.

A head clash in the ninth round left Kelly with a cut on his nose. "He doesn't want it," Agyarko's corner shouted in the 10th but Kelly responded with sharp uppercuts.

The final two rounds were tense, with Kelly landing the cleaner work before catching Agyarko with a double left hook in the 12th.

Frustrated Sheeraz goes the distance

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Hamzah Sheeraz was never in trouble but struggled to find his ryhthm in his first world-title defence

Fighting just two months after stopping Alem Begic to win the vacant WBO title, Londoner Sheeraz controlled the early rounds and landed heavy body shots in the second and third.

But German Zachenhuber, 28, who arrived with a 29-1 record built largely against limited opposition, began to frustrate the champion with his southpaw stance.

Sheeraz walked his opponent down but struggled to find the spite and power that had stopped 19 of his previous 24 opponents.

"I will press him," Sheeraz told trainer Andy Lee, but despite winning every round to that point he appeared reluctant to let his right hand go.

A left hook to the body followed by an uppercut hurt Zachenhuber in the ninth, but Sheeraz could not capitalise.

The scorecards were closer than many expected, with one judge scoring the fight a draw. But cards of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 handed Sheeraz a majority decision victory.

"I knew it wasn't good but I didn't think it was that bad," Sheeraz said, dismissing suggestions of any injury to his right hand.

Kelly targets unification fights

After a hard-fought win, Kelly's attention can now turn to the marquee names in their divisions.

While Sebastian Fundora holds the WBA title, Kelly has set his sights on fellow Matchroom fighter Jaron 'Boots' Ennis.

The unbeaten American is a two-weight world champion and the WBA and WBO light-middleweight champion, boasting 32 stoppages in 36 victories.

"I want it next," Kelly said. "People will be smiling looking at that and saying 'what is he talking about' - but that style of fight is a tricky night for anyone.

"I want the big names in the division. I have already took out one big name in Bakhram Murtazaliev. Let me get the other ones."

Sheeraz, meanwhile, remains in contention for a lucrative match-up against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

The Mexican superstar, who has beaten all eight Britons he has faced, must first get past Christian Mbilli in October for the WBC belt before any potential unification showdown can be discussed.

"I'm sure people are chomping at the bit after that performance, so let's make the big ones happen," Sheeraz said.