BoxRec

Hearn: Josh Kelly likely to make IBF title defense in July

Sebastian Fundora's punishing performance Saturday night against Keith Thurman reminded many that junior middleweight is the sport's busiest division.

WBC titleholder Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) left former unified welterweight champion Thurman's face looking a mess before referee Thomas Taylor mercifully stopped their one-sided title fight in the sixth, reinforcing the adage that boxing is a young man's sport and we're in need of clarity as junior middleweight intensifies at the top.

While a formal announcement has been teased for Xander Zayas-Jaron Ennis on June 29, the 154-pound division's newest world champion has options to choose from before making his return this summer.

Brandon Adams-Caoimhin Agyarko takes place in Las Vegas on April 11 to decide the Sunderland man's next IBF mandatory challenger, having benefited from that distinction when climbing off the canvas before narrowly outpointing inactive champion Bakhram Murtazaliev on January 31 in Newcastle.

Matchroom re-signed Kelly to new promotional terms in the build-up to his world title shot after a four-year stretch apart following his damaging stoppage defeat by former European champion David Avanesyan in February 2021.

Two months after Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs) declared his desire to be involved in the biggest fights possible, Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn gave an update on the 31-year-old's return timeline.

"Josh has a lot of options, he likes the Zayas fight and I've already spoken about him fighting Ennis. Adam Booth and him are starting to push me about these options, so we'll make a decision in the next week but I think he'll make a defense in July," he told The Ring.

Kelly responded on social media after claims from WBO and WBA titleholder Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) that he, or members of his team, had rejected an offer for a three-belt unification.

It appears as though Zayas will seize an opportunity left by the ongoing legal battle between Golden Boy and WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) by defending his titles against Ennis, who made his divisional debut a quick one with a first-round blowout of Uisma Lima in October. Kelly was mentioned among the candidates for his first test at the weight class, though plenty has changed in the six months since negotiations reached an impasse.

A voluntary defense with favorable conditions at home will need to be finalized soon, if they're to avoid a similar situation to the one awaiting IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker (22-0, 11 KOs) as an Australian business trip against determined former 140-pound titleholder Liam Paro is on tap in the coming months.

Potentially the winner of Brandon Adams vs. Caoimhin Agyarko

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑30 Mar 2026, 09:45 Potentially the winner of Brandon Adams vs. Caoimhin Agyarko

I would think it be the winner of Adams and Agyarko, unless the IBF allows Kelly to make a voluntary defense before facing the mandatory.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑30 Mar 2026, 09:45 Potentially the winner of Brandon Adams vs. Caoimhin Agyarko

Is this a final eliminator or just an eliminator? Neither are ranked 1 or 2 in the IBF rankings so I'm suspecting it's just an eliminator?

Separately, I assume if Boots and Ortiz aren't going to face each other, Zayas Will face Bogotá to unify the interim belt. Fundora might try the same against Ortiz but there's now legal trouble stopping Ortiz from getting in the ring for a while. Kelly Vs Fundora? The ghost of Danny Garcia is IBF ranked if he wants a voluntary.

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Mar 2026, 11:03

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑30 Mar 2026, 09:45 Potentially the winner of Brandon Adams vs. Caoimhin Agyarko

Is this a final eliminator or just an eliminator? Neither are ranked 1 or 2 in the IBF rankings so I'm suspecting it's just an eliminator?

Separately, I assume if Boots and Ortiz aren't going to face each other, Zayas Will face Bogotá to unify the interim belt. Fundora might try the same against Ortiz but there's now legal trouble stopping Ortiz from getting in the ring for a while. Kelly Vs Fundora? The ghost of Danny Garcia is IBF ranked if he wants a voluntary.

According to a February 14 story in Fight News, it is a final eliminator. However, since that was published a month and a half ago, that doesn't mean it's still a final eliminator. Or even an eliminator at all.

MPW wrote: ↑30 Mar 2026, 11:16

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Mar 2026, 11:03

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑30 Mar 2026, 09:45 Potentially the winner of Brandon Adams vs. Caoimhin Agyarko

Is this a final eliminator or just an eliminator? Neither are ranked 1 or 2 in the IBF rankings so I'm suspecting it's just an eliminator?

Separately, I assume if Boots and Ortiz aren't going to face each other, Zayas Will face Bogotá to unify the interim belt. Fundora might try the same against Ortiz but there's now legal trouble stopping Ortiz from getting in the ring for a while. Kelly Vs Fundora? The ghost of Danny Garcia is IBF ranked if he wants a voluntary.

According to a February 14 story in Fight News, it is a final eliminator. However, since that was published a month and a half ago, that doesn't mean it's still a final eliminator. Or even an eliminator at all.

Some of the boxing websites assume it's a final eliminator because they're too stupid to realise there are other eliminators. It's usually with the IBF who require eliminators to be ranked 1st or 2nd before a final eliminator is called between them

IBF are weird like that.

154 heating up

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑30 Mar 2026, 11:46 IBF are weird like that.

It means they can charge you a fee to even get ranked for a title shot in the first place, and then charge you another fee to actual get the title shot...and a 3rd fee if you want your belt.

TBA active again. I bet TBA pulls out though, again.

According to a story posted today in BN24, Kelly's defense will be a voluntary one. However, if he wins that bout, he would be mandated to face the winner of the April 11 fight between Adams and Agyarko.

Reports that it could be Caoimhin Agyarko

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑16 Apr 2026, 07:24 Reports that it could be Caoimhin Agyarko

While I'm not sold on Agyarko, I think it would be an appropriate move. After all, he was ready to take on Adams in the eliminator to determine who would fight Kelly for the title when the American withdrew for unexpected health reasons.

I think TBA will pull out, always does

News: With Brandon Adams withdrawing on event of last Saturday’s IBF 154 final eliminator vs. Caoimhin Agyarko due to a health issue, the IBF has ordered Agyarko vs. former titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev for the mandatory spot. Murtazaliev notified IBF he'll participate. Agyarko has until Monday to accept.



I mean, Hearn can just have Agyarko as voluntary defence

Also Murtz just lost the belt.

Why do IBF do this?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑17 Apr 2026, 07:50 Also Murtz just lost the belt.

Why do IBF do this?

Sure, Murtazaliev did recently lose the title by majority decision to Kelly, but some people believe he did enough to win the fight or least receive a draw. (Not a fan of the style he employed during the bout, I do think Kelly did just enough to edge the victory.) Still, the IBF could have just ordered an immediate rematch between Kelly and the Russian in an attempt to resolves a somewhat disputed outcome.

Instead, they opted to give Kelly a voluntary defense (although I'm not 100% certain about that status), while having Adams and Agyarko fight an eliminator to determine his mandatory. Since that fight fell through without resolution, the organization has now ordered Murtazaliev and Agyarko to fight the eliminator. Not the worst thing that could have happened to determine Kelly's mandatory.

Personally, I would have preferred Agyarko just be moved into the mandatory position. After all, he was ready to fight Adams for that spot and was in no way responsible for the bout not taking place. Now he has to go through another training camp to prepare for a new challenge without, I'm assuming, having received his purse from the last one.

News: Caoimhin Agyarko either didn't respond to the IBF or turned down eliminator vs. Bakhram Murtazaliev ordered in the wake of Brandon Adams pulling out vs. Agyarko the day before their April 11 eliminator when he collapsed & was taken to the hospital with chest pains. So the IBF has moved on & ordered former titlist Murtazaliev vs. Adams for the 154 final eliminator. Both have accepted their positions in writing to the IBF & will begin negotiating.

This attempt to determine a mandatory for Kelly just keeps getting stranger and stranger.

You almost get the sense that the IBF should have just ordered a rematch between him and Murtazaliev in the first place, rather than go through Adam-Agyarko, then Agyarko-Murtazaliev, and now Murtazaliev-Adams.

Tim Tszyu please Eddie.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑22 Apr 2026, 11:16 Tim Tszyu please Eddie.

Ooh, I like your thinking! Kelly against Tszyu would be an intriguing match up.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Apr 2026, 10:51 News: Caoimhin Agyarko either didn't respond to the IBF or turned down eliminator vs. Bakhram Murtazaliev ordered in the wake of Brandon Adams pulling out vs. Agyarko the day before their April 11 eliminator when he collapsed & was taken to the hospital with chest pains. So the IBF has moved on & ordered former titlist Murtazaliev vs. Adams for the 154 final eliminator. Both have accepted their positions in writing to the IBF & will begin negotiating.

Can we presume he's turned it down because he's going to be the voluntary defence in Kelly's rumoured homecoming?

WestEndRiot wrote: ↑22 Apr 2026, 16:55

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Apr 2026, 10:51 News: Caoimhin Agyarko either didn't respond to the IBF or turned down eliminator vs. Bakhram Murtazaliev ordered in the wake of Brandon Adams pulling out vs. Agyarko the day before their April 11 eliminator when he collapsed & was taken to the hospital with chest pains. So the IBF has moved on & ordered former titlist Murtazaliev vs. Adams for the 154 final eliminator. Both have accepted their positions in writing to the IBF & will begin negotiating.

Can we presume he's turned it down because he's going to be the voluntary defence in Kelly's rumoured homecoming?

That’s what I assume.

Why fight a mandatory when you know you’re getting picked next.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Apr 2026, 16:59

WestEndRiot wrote: ↑22 Apr 2026, 16:55

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Apr 2026, 10:51 News: Caoimhin Agyarko either didn't respond to the IBF or turned down eliminator vs. Bakhram Murtazaliev ordered in the wake of Brandon Adams pulling out vs. Agyarko the day before their April 11 eliminator when he collapsed & was taken to the hospital with chest pains. So the IBF has moved on & ordered former titlist Murtazaliev vs. Adams for the 154 final eliminator. Both have accepted their positions in writing to the IBF & will begin negotiating.

Can we presume he's turned it down because he's going to be the voluntary defence in Kelly's rumoured homecoming?

That’s what I assume.

Why fight a mandatory when you know you’re getting picked next.

That makes perfect sense, if it is indeed the case.