Adversity to history - Agyarko's world title dream

ByDavid Mohan

BBC Sport NI journalist

"I will become Ireland's first black world champion."

From early in Caoimhin Agyarko's career, the above was pinned to the top of his X account and while the profile is no more, the objective remains.

On Saturday, Belfast's Agyarko gets the opportunity he has craved since first lacing up the gloves when he faces IBF light-middleweight champion Josh Kelly in Saudi Arabia.

The bout has landed on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's ring return against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah.

Another Belfast man, Tommy McCarthy, made history as Ireland's first black European champion with victory over Bilal Laggoune in 2020, but Agyarko wants to break further ground.

"I'm 30 this year, started boxing at seven years old, and have had the dream of becoming the first black Irish world champion," Agyarko tells BBC Sport NI.

"I've already made history by becoming the first black Irishman to fight for a world title but that is not my plan.

"My plan is to become the first black Irish world champion and lead the way for the next generation of fighters and people from different backgrounds."

Born in London to an Irish mother and Ghanaian father, Agyarko spent his first seven years in England before relocating to the Turf Lodge area of west Belfast.

It was the nearby Holy Trinity club - a staple of the city's boxing fabric - where the love of the sweet science was forged.

As an amateur Agyarko won Irish and Ulster honours. He switched to the professional ranks in 2018 and racked up the wins before his progress was stalled by injury.

"It's been 22 years of hard work, dedication, setbacks, ups and downs, disappointments and big wins. But none of that matters - it's all on Saturday and this is everything I've dreamt of since I was a kid," Agyarko said.

"I'm a regular kid from west Belfast, from an Irish-Ghanian background. I'm nothing special, but just want to leave a legacy the next generation can aspire to."

A 2023 victory over Troy Williamson should have been Agyarko's springboard to bigger fights but it proved little more than a prelude to a frustrating 12 months with just one low-key outing.

However, quickfire wins in spring 2025 led to a Windsor Park meeting with Ishmael Davis, edging a split decision verdict having pulled himself off the canvas and suffering a badly swollen eye.

In April he was in Las Vegas, preparing to weigh-in for a final eliminator against Brandon Adams when the American collapsed and the fight was off.

Despite the IBF ordering another final eliminator against former champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, a deal was struck with Kelly's team and they meet on Saturday.

Those ups and downs are not exclusive to his career in the ring, as in May 2017, a then 20-year-old Agyarko was tasked with a different fight.

Agyarko was slashed down the side of his face after an unprovoked attack in Belfast city centre which left him requiring emergency surgery and fighting for life.

"Things have happened for a reason, in and out of the ring: setbacks after setbacks in boxing and in life," Agyarko said.

"I'm used to this and the one thing I've never let any of it do was break me. I've been very resilient over the past 10 years since the stabbing, but my mindset now is 'these things happen', so what can I do to keep pushing forward instead of dwelling on a situation that is out of my hands?"

Agyarko may have reached the world stage but he has not forgotten his roots.

Holy Trinity helped mould him as a fighter and a man.

"[It's] the place that has given me everything and the reason why I am where I am in life," Agyarko added, when talking about the gym.

Club coach Michael Hawkins Jr and former world title challenger Stephen Smith will be by Agyarko's side in Saudi Arabia, while Michael Hawkins Sr remains on hand to offer advice.

It is a club that has produced two-time super-featherweight world champion Anthony Cacace and former welterweight world champion Lewis Crocker.

Indeed, there is a little bit of symmetry as Cacace won his first title on a huge heavyweight undercard in Saudi Arabia when he dethroned Joe Cordina on the first Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury clash in 2024.

"There's big inspiration from Cacace, another Holy Trinity man who went to Saudi and I'm about to do the same for an IBF world title," Agyarko said.

"You've also got Lewis Crocker who won an IBF world title and now it's my turn, so it feels like it's written in the stars and this is the path I'm meant to take.

"Even look back at Carl Frampton and his first world title was for the IBF, Ryan Burnett's was an IBF, so this is now my time."

Agyarko is under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task that stands in front of him this weekend.

Kelly, 32, represented Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has won 18 of his 20 fights, losing one and drawing one.

He started fast when beating Murtazaliev for the title in February, knocking the Russian down in round four, but had to come through a late rally when dropped in the ninth.

"It's not just fitness, but explosiveness when I'm putting my punches together," Agyarko said.

"Not throwing singles, I think he will struggle to deal with it, so I will need to let my hands go have the power, speed and footwork.

"Some have said we have similar styles in that we are both reactive fighters, that I can use my head movement and footwork to get me out of trouble.

"I'm not going to play that game with him. I'm going to steamroll him and I'm looking forward to it."