AS he iced his knuckles after hammering opponent Bahadur Karami for the best part of eight rounds last Saturday night, Caoimhin Agyarko announced his intention to move on to a European title shot.
Agyarko wants to make up for lost time after his career stalled following what was a career-best dismantling of aggressive Troy Williamson in Belfast in December last year.
He spent a frustrating nine months on the sidelines and returned against obstinate, determined and physically bigger Manchester-based Iranian Karami who was out-classed but kept battling at the SSE Arena.
“It’s exactly what I expected from him,” said Agyarko.
“He was a last-minute opponent, I only got told about it on Thursday morning but in the two days that I had to prepare for him I watched whatever I could of him. He’s a light-heavy/super-middleweight and I’m a super-welter!
“I got told the fight was being made at half-a-stone heavier than what I was scheduled to fight at and then he came in 3lb over that… So I expected him to push me, I expected him to be physically strong and it was a good eight rounds, it was good to be back out there for the first time in nine months.
“I was a bit rusty but a win’s a win.
“Beating Troy Williamson was my career-best performance but I needed to push on from that and unfortunately so far this year I’ve been inactive and that showed in there. There was a bit of ring rust with a lot of mental issues going on this week and last week and I was in with someone who is two/three weights above me.”
Composed under fire, the technically-excellent performance took Agyarko to 15-0 and having served a thorough apprenticeship in the professional game and is keen to push on towards title level. The first step for him, he says, is a shot at the European title which is currently held by Germany’s Abass Baraou (16-1).
“I want activity,” said Agyarko.
“I’ll speak to my manager and tell him I need a date and to get me one. I want to fight again and I need to be kept active. Hopefully I’ll get another one before the end of the year and then I’ll push on for big titles in 2025.
“I’m ready for European level. I’m ranked number nine with the WBA and number seven with the EBU. I want a European title, I’ve called for the European title so I want to be in a position to fight for it – I know you can’t skip levels in boxing – and then I want to push on to world level.”
YOU don’t get paid for over-time and Dylan Moran – who’d been on the receiving end in his previous fight - inflicted one of the fastest-ever KO wins in the history of Belfast boxing last Saturday night.
It took Moran just 19 seconds to blast out Owen O’Neill in their welterweight contest at the SSE Arena. Waterford native Moran rocked the local favourite with a left hook – his first shot of the contest – and, when he saw his opponent’s legs buckle, he went for the kill.
Another left hook, heavier than the first, zeroed in on the target and as O’Neill lurched back into the ropes, Moran finished him off. Referee Eamon Magill moved in swiftly to wave it off.
“I’m delighted,” said Moran afterwards.
Moran was knocked out after 54 seconds by Florian Marku in Manchester last year so he is well aware how Owen O’Neill felt after he was blitzed in front of his home supporters on Saturday.
“19 seconds beats what happened to me in my last fight,” he said.
“I got my own back tonight. I said in the build-up that what happened last time knocked me off track big time. There was a lot of frustration and I was angry at the game as you can imagine.
“I locked myself away for the last nine weeks’ and it paid off.
“When an opportunity comes your way you need to grab it by the scruff of the neck and make the most of it – mine came and I went out and took it.”
Moran had been working his way towards a breakthrough title shot until that Marku loss temporarily derailed his plans. His eye-catching victory over O’Neill should put him right back in the welterweight mix and he wants to test himself against the likes of Paddy Donovan, Lewis Crocker and perhaps Pierce O’Leary.
“Big Irish fights are what I want,” he said.
“Anyone, anywhere… I’ve said it all along and I think that win puts me right back in the mix. I’ll sit and chat with my manager now. Ideally we want to go to Waterford and have big show there and, as for the opponent… I don’t turn down fights.
“Whatever makes sense and whatever the fans want to see we’ll go for it.”
ONE of four debutants to win at the SSE Arena last Saturday night, Belfast featherweight Jack O’Neill hopes to lead the next wave of Irish fighting talent.
Trained by Ray and Mark Ginley, the long-levered youngster received an enthusiastic welcome from Belfast fight fans before showcasing his switch-hitting skills against seasoned Yorkshire journeyman Jake Pollard who made him work for his win.
“That was some buzz,” said ‘Wacko’ afterwards.
“I’ve never felt a win like that before, it was unbelievable. My family and friends came out to support me and I knew it was going to be good and loud, but not that loud! Even apart from my fan base, the crowd gave me a lot of support and I got to showcase my skills in front of a lot of people and live on DAZN.
“I’m getting used to the eight ounce gloves, the slower pace and picking my punches,” he said.
“There were a few silly mistakes in there but I felt good, I felt sharp. Pollard was a last-minute opponent change and I knew he would be tough and the tactic was to make sure I didn’t get carried away in there and get caught with any silly shots.”
O’Neill boxed with Holy Trinity ABC during his amateur days and finished at the Corpus Christi club where he won three Ulster Elite titles.
“Big shout out to Tony Leonard, who was my last head coach as an amateur,” he said.
“I owe a lot to Mark and Ray (Ginley) now. We have started this professional journey together and hopefully we can go pretty far.”