Narrow Defeat For Kelly

Ryan Kelly

Birmingham’s ‘Ruthless’ Ryan Kelly was in a narrow majority points decision as he took on late replacement Caoimhin Agyarko in a ten-round contest. The fight was on the undercard of the Dalton Smith v Mathieu Gernain from The Park Community arena, Sheffield, steaming live on DAZN (19.4.25). Thirty-one-year-old Kelly entered the contest with a record of nineteen wins and one draw out of twenty-five fights. Agyarko (28) came into the contest with an unbeaten record of sixteen without defeat and had only been given a week’s notice for the fight. Both fighters weighed in at ten stone, thirteen in this ten three-minute round contest with John Latham reffing.

Kelly used his jab well at the start of the first round, looking to put his Mark on the contest. Agyarko countered well using great movement and fast hands to edge the round. Kelly continued to press, taking the centre of the ring, working the jab well and landing some nice body shots. Agyarko came back with a good counter, but Kelly's aggression won him the round. Agyarko stood his ground more in the third coming forward, landing some great shots. Kelly continued to box well, landing good shots, but it was Agyarko who was landing the eye-catching shots, winning the round.

Kelly came out aggressive in the fourth, but Agyarko came back with some fast counters. Kelly continued to press, landing some nice combinations to the head and body, winning the round. Agyarko came out strong but Kelly backed him up with good shots, opening a cut over Agyarko left eye. Agyarko continued, well, but Kelly was the aggressor, landing great combinations with some nasty left hook body shots. Kelly looked confident as he came out for the sixth as he pressed forward, as Agyarko boxed well on the back foot with fast counters, just edging the round.

Agyarko came out the aggressor in the seventh, throwing fast combinations and putting Kelly on the back foot. Kelly looked to slow the fight down, but did press Agyarko back, but Agyarko won it with the cleaner shots. Hard eight-round fight with both fighters landing great combinations, both fighters had their moments, and could not split them.

Agyarko came out fast, but Kelly came back with some solid combinations with some heavy body shots opening up Agyarko’s eye again and his nose. Agyarko had his moments, but Kelly edged it for me. Agyarko started the final round strong with Kelly landing good shots, but was just being outworked by Agyarko, Kelly finished the round strong, with Agyarko matching him even round.

Judge Steve Gray scored it 97 to 94 Agyarko, Grzegorz Molenda scored it 96 to 94 to Agyarko  an Manuel Oliver scoring it 95 to 95 Draw. I had it 97 to 96 Agyarko

Agyarko win it Majority Decision

Dexter’s Thoughts

Very close contest which could have gone either way. Kelly and Agyarko both put on great performances in this ten round fight that kicked off the DAZN live show. Kelly has now lost two in a row but they have been very close and at a very high level so I still think Kelly has more to offer to boxing. I’m sure if he wants to at thirty-one him and his team can regroup and come again and I can still see Kelly contesting for British or even European titles in the future. Kelly in my opinion still has the qualities to ask questions to any fighter on the domestic secret. I look forward to seeing Kelly in the ring again very soon.