The respective teams for Brandon Adams and Caoimhin Agyarko made proper use of the additional time allotted to reach a deal.
BoxingScene has confirmed the IBF has canceled a purse bid hearing for the abovementioned 154lbs title eliminator. The session was scheduled for Tuesday but removed from the calendar upon notification that both sides agreed to terms for the ordered matchup.
For now, the bout is due to take place on April 18. Ring Magazine's Manouk Akopyan has since reported that the fight will take place at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.
At stake is the right to become the mandatory challenger to current IBF 154lbs titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev, 23-0 (17 KOs), who will next face Josh Kelly, 17-1-1 (9 KOs) on January 31 in Newcastle, England.
Adams-Agyarko was ordered in November, shortly after Adames, 25-4 (16 KOs) entered the IBF top 15 rankings, thanks to a successful lobbying campaign on the part of Wise Owl Management.
The placement itself was earned in a repeat win over Serhii Bohachuk, whom Adams 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), was similarly forced to overcome the politics of the sport but enjoyed a productive – and active – three-fight 2025 campaign to position himself for title contention.
The 28-year-old Belfast native has frequently vowed to “be the first black Irish world champion, mark my words.” His rise has been impressive, considering so few contenders have been willing to look his way, much less share the ring with him.
Among Agyarko’s three victories last year was a well-earned split decision over Ishmael Davis, also on September 13 but in his Belfast hometown. Agyarko rose from a 12th round knockdown to prevail, and preserve his place in line for a title eliminator.
