The good news is that Brandon Adams and Caoimhin Agyarko technically have another week to reach terms for their ordered title eliminator.
The more likely outcome, however, is merely a longer wait until a purse bid hearing determines promotional rights for the matchup.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the IBF has granted a seven-day postponement for their previously scheduled purse bid, which was due to take place on Tuesday. The matter was rescheduled for January 6, to be conducted via video conference.
The highest bidding promoter will gain access to the IBF 154lbs title eliminator to determine the next mandatory challenger to current titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev, 23-0 (17 KOs).
Adams-Agyarko was ordered in November, shortly after Adames, 25-4 (16 KOs), through Wise Owl Management – burst into the IBF top 15 rankings. The move came upon request of his management team but was earned in a repeat win over Serhii Bohachuk, whom he outpointed on the undercard of the September 13 Terence Crawford-Saul Alvarez Netflix event in Las Vegas.
The feat knocked Bohachuk out of contention and placed Adams firmly in the title picture.
Adams previously handed Bohachuk his first defeat in a March 2021 upset knockout win in Puerto Rico. Just four fights have followed in more than four years, including a questionable split decision defeat to unbeaten Andreas Katzourakis last November in Atlanta, Georgia.
Agyarko, 18-0 (7 KOs), can relate to the school of hard knocks route that Adams was forced to travel.
The 28-year-old contender from Belfast has steadily risen through the ranks but his calls for showdowns with the division’s best have largely fallen on deaf ears.
That said, Agyarko enjoyed his most active in-ring campaign since the pandemic. His three wins in 2025 included a split decision over Ishmael Davis, also on September 13 but in his Belfast hometown. Agyarko was forced to overcome a 12th round knockdown to prevail and remain atop the divisional rankings.
Per IBF rules covering purse bids, both boxers are required to commit to the process and cannot enter another interim fight. Failure to honor the sanctioning body’s rules will result in a demotion outside the top 10 and ineligibility to participate in IBF-branded fights for at least six months.
Ironically, the fight – even if it moves forward – won’t take place until after Murtazaliev’s scheduled January 31 title defense versus England’s Josh Kelly.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.
