A “heartbroken” Caoimhin Agyarjko admitted he “didn’t do enough” in Saturday’s defeat by IBF light-middleweight champion Josh Kelly in Saudi Arabia.
Two of the three judges scored it 115-112 in favour of the defending champion with the third having it narrower at 114-113.
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A strong start by the 32-year-old from Sunderland would prove crucial as he built a healthy lead, but was forced to fight through a cut under his left eye and badly damaged nose as Agyarko began to make headway in the second half when Kelly was docked a point in the sixth for one rabbit punch too many.
While both men would celebrate what they felt was victory at the final bell, it was the champion who retained his title to improve his record to 19 wins, one draw and one loss, while Agyarko suffered his first career loss to drop to 18-1.
“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.
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“It’s not the result I wanted, but well done to Josh and his team. I’m going to come again and I will be the first black Irish world champion.”
Fast start builds the platform for Kelly
Kelly made his customary fast start with his hand speed and movement helping him bank the majority of the first six rounds.
Agyarko was having his moments, getting through with his jab on occasion and some looping rights, but didn’t seem to be doing enough to win the rounds.
Kelly had been warned by referee Ignatius Missailidis on a couple of occasion for landing punches to the back of Agyarko’s head and when he did it again in the sixth, a point was taken off.
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This seemed to spark Agyarko into life as he began get closer and throw with more conviction, with Kelly not as sharp as he had been earlier in the contest.
The champion was beginning to open the rounds well but fade with Agyarko imposing himself, landing with some heavy hooks, but in the ninth, a trade up close saw Kelly come off worse with a gash on the nose to accompany one under the right eye from earlier in the fight which would deteriorate as the final rounds ticked by.
Kelly finished the fight with a badly damaged nose [Getty Images]
While Agyarko was now enjoying much more success than before, there was still a sense he could have upped it a little more as Kelly was doing enough to break even and while both raised their fist in triumph at the final bell, it was Kelly who got the nod.
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“I thought it was close going into the fifth or sixth, could have been one up to him or level,” Agyarko said.
“In the second half when I started holding my feet and letting my hands go, I think I took over. He had the point taken off as well.
“No excuses from me, I wasn’t good enough tonight and I lost. Well done to Josh – he’s a great champion, very tricky and awkward. I did think I won but it wasn’t good enough for the judges and I have no complaints.”
Kelly’s win was his ninth in succession following his sole career reverse in 2021 to David Avanesyan and he had words of encouragement for the Belfast man after what he described a “messy, hard fight”.
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“Don’t take it as a loss, take it as a learn,” said Kelly.
“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.”
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