While Agyarko was now enjoying much more success than before, there was still a sense he could have upped it a little more as Kelly was doing enough to break even and while both raised their fist in triumph at the final bell, it was Kelly who got the nod.
“I thought it was close going into the fifth or sixth, could have been one up to him or level,” Agyarko said.
“In the second half when I started holding my feet and letting my hands go, I think I took over. He had the point taken off as well.
“No excuses from me, I wasn’t good enough tonight and I lost. Well done to Josh – he’s a great champion, very tricky and awkward. I did think I won but it wasn’t good enough for the judges and I have no complaints.”
Kelly’s win was his ninth in succession following his sole career reverse in 2021 to David Avanesyan and he had words of encouragement for the Belfast man after what he described a “messy, hard fight”.
“Don’t take it as a loss, take it as a learn,” said Kelly.
“That was a huge fight for him, his second 12-round fight and he learned a lot in there. He’ll come back but has to show how much he wants it, bounce back from his loss like I did five or six years ago. That’s the true heart of a champion.”
