'Black Thunder' lands shot at Josh Kelly's IBF super-welterweight title

The unbeaten 'Black Thunder' lands shot at Josh Kelly's IBF belt

Belfast's Caoimhin Agyarko (18-0, 7 KOs) will challenge champion Josh Kelly (18-1-1, 5 KOs) for the IBF super-welterweight title this summer.

Agyarko was set to take on the USA's Brandon Adams for the mandatory position at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, in April, but the American was ruled unable to compete after collapsing prior to the weigh-in.

It left the undefeated 29-year-old Croydon-born fighter waiting on a decision from the IBF as to whether he would automatically be installed as the mandatory challenger for Englishman Kelly.

The IBF instead ordered Agyarko to take on previous champion Bakhram Murtazaliev - who lost the title to Kelly on a majority points decision in January - to fight for the mandatory spot.

However, the Belfast man's team turned down that scenario, with Adams - who has since received medical clearance - stepping into that slot to take on the 33-year-old Russian.

Fortunately, Belfast-based Agyarko has been selected by southpaw Kelly as a voluntary defence of his title.

The championship contest is set to take place this summer, possibly on the undercard of the heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 25, but the Utility Arena in Newcastle in August is also an option.

An official announcement is expected next week.