Caoimhin Agyarko has won all 18 of his professional bouts, an undefeated record that has propelled him to the brink of a world title. At 30, the Belfast‑born fighter has long declared he will become Ireland’s first black world champion. He is set to face IBF light‑middleweight champion Josh Kelly on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s return to the ring in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Agyarko was born in London to an Irish mother and Ghanaian father, then raised in west Belfast’s Holy Trinity club. The club, a staple of the city’s boxing scene, also produced champions Anthony Cacace and Lewis Crocker. Agyarko’s amateur career earned him Irish and Ulster honours before turning professional in 2018.

A 2023 victory over Troy Williamson was followed by a 12‑month lull, then a rapid series of wins that earned him a match with Ishmael Davis and a final eliminator against former champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. The fight with Kelly will test his speed, power and footwork.

“I will steamroll Kelly,” Agyarko says, confident that his aggressive style will overwhelm the Olympic‑medalled champion.