Josh Kelly retained his super-welterweight world title in a closely contested bout on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s recent event. Facing Caoimhin Agyarko, Kelly emerged with cuts beneath both eyes in a fight that many described as scrappy and hard-fought. Despite the visible damage, Kelly secured a victory by decision, convincing the judges he deserved to keep his championship belt.

Kelly acknowledged the physical toll the fight took on him, attributing his facial cuts more to accidental clashes of heads and elbows than to clean punches. He described Agyarko as having a strong game plan, which forced Kelly to adapt and fight in bursts rather than maintaining a steady rhythm throughout the match.

While Kelly’s performance was enough to claim the win, he is aware that some fans may question his ability to contend with the division’s top competitor, Jaron Ennis, whom he has openly targeted for a future bout. Kelly anticipates skepticism regarding whether he can rise to that level after the uneven display in his recent title defense but remains focused on pursuing the matchup.

The fight marked Kelly’s first defense of his super-welterweight world title, and despite the bruises, he successfully held off a determined challenger. With his sights set on Ennis, Kelly is preparing for the next phase of his career in what promises to be a significant test against the division’s leading contender.