It is fair to say that Caoimhin Agyarko is not a fan of a potential fight between Conor Benn and Shakur Stevenson – nor a fan of Benn in general.
Benn and Stevenson faced off after the latter’s wide decision win over Teofimo Lopez to become the lineal junior welterweight champion and a four-division world titleholder, after reigns at 126lbs, 130 and 135.
Stevenson called Benn to the ring – and called for a rehydration clause just like Benn had in his two huge events with Chris Eubank Jnr in 2025. Benn was a welterweight/junior middleweight moving up to middleweight for those bouts.
This was not the first confrontation between Stevenson and Benn. They had gone back and forth with each other last year on The Ariel Helwani Show. In the ring on Saturday, Benn went from telling Stevenson he was too small and not powerful enough to keep him off, to promptly saying their collision could come next.
Agyarko, a prospect at 154lbs, did not like what he saw and heard.
“Conor Benn is truly embarrassing,” Agyarko posted on X. His text has been slightly edited here for clarity. “Jumps in the ring, calling out a guy smaller than him who’s a four-weight world champion, saying he’s too small, but let’s get it on whilst not earning his shot to literally fight anyone. That drug cheat needs a good beating to bring him back to earth.”
Agyarko, 18-0 (7 KOs), a 29-year-old who lives in Northern Ireland, is preparing for the biggest fight of his career. He will face contender Brandon Adams on April 11 in an elimination bout for a shot at the IBF junior middleweight title.
If Agyarko wins, that could make for a big clash in the United Kingdom now that the IBF belt has changed hands. Josh Kelly dethroned Bakhram Murtazaliev for the title in Newcastle, England, hours before Stevenson topped Lopez in New York City.
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
